As you probably know, Maine has a Bonus Point system for those who enter the Maine Moose Permit lottery. For every year that you apply and do not receive a permit, you are awarded one bonus entry chance in subsequent drawings. In 2008, the greatest number of bonus points that anyone can have is 10. Your bonus point only increases your chances of being picked by the mere fact that you may have more bonus points than some other applicants. This is not the case with preference points. In the states that use a preference point system, the points are awarded in much the same fashion to unsuccessful applicants. However, an individual with fewer preference points for the most part CANNOT be selected over someone with more than he or she has. The only variation being that in some states, Wyoming for example, 25% of the permits are in a separate drawing where preference points play no role in one's ability to get picked. This variation exists for a good reason - so that everybody, including a young person who is entering the draw for the first time, has an opportunity. Otherwise, folks would just plain not enter.
Many of us know at least several folks that have been selected in the moose drawing multiple times. And we all know many people who have never been selected. I'm not sure that a preference point system dramatically increases one's fortunes in the moose lottery. But at least it brings a fairer system into use. If you have never been picked since 1980, and your neighbor has been picked twice, it's a real kick in the butt. I have been told by state officials and legislators that a preference point system is too confusing. I guess they think that Maine hunters are stupider than those in states that employ the preference points. I don't.
With regard to the NON-RESIDENT Maine Moose Drawing, the bonus points could be considered almost superfluous. A non-resident can annually purchase unlimited entry chances in the Maine Moose Drawing. A resident is confined to six. Subsequently, a first time non-resident applicant can overcome his or her obvious bonus point deficit by entering the drawing with sufficient chances to overcome another non-resident's supposed bonus point advantage.
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Guy Randlett - Registered Maine Guide (207) 633-4549
