Bonus Points vs Preference Points

The short version

Utah runs two point systems. Bonus points cover limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime hunts, where about half the permits go to top point holders and the rest are random. Preference points cover general-season buck deer and most antlerless hunts. You can build either kind of point without hunting.

Bonus points

You earn a bonus point each time you apply for a limited-entry or once-in-a-lifetime hunt and do not draw, or when you apply for a point on its own. In the bonus half of the draw, the most points win. In the random half, you get one random number plus one more per bonus point, and your lowest number counts. How the Utah draw works.

Preference points

General-season buck deer uses preference points. Each time you apply and do not draw a general-season buck deer permit, you receive a preference point. Preference points are given for a species (deer), not a unit. If you draw a general-season deer permit, you lose your preference points and do not receive an additional one.

Which hunts use which

How to apply for a point only

1. Buy a Utah hunting or combination license first. You cannot get a point without one.
2. During the application period, apply at utahdraws.com and choose the point code instead of a hunt number.
3. Pay the application fee: $10 for residents and $21 for nonresidents in 2026, plus a 2.2% card transaction fee. There is no permit fee for a point.
4. Missed the spring window? In 2026 you could still apply for big game points during the antlerless application period, June 9 to 23.

Deadlines

Who is holding points

These are hunters who bought a point only in 2026, with no hunt application. It shows how many people are waiting in each pool.

Rules that trip people up

• You cannot apply for a permit and a bonus point for the same species in the same year.
• Residents may apply for only one limited-entry bonus point and one once-in-a-lifetime bonus point a year. Nonresidents may apply for permits or points in every limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime species.
• Buying a general-season buck deer permit that remains after the drawing wipes out your deer preference points.
• Getting a limited-entry or once-in-a-lifetime permit that remains after the drawing costs you your bonus points for that species and starts a waiting period.
• Surrender a drawn permit less than 30 days before the season opens and you lose all the points you had for that species.
• You may apply for a general-season buck permit or point, or a Dedicated Hunter permit or point, but not both.