Preference Point System
Oklahoma’s preference point system is not a true preference
system (one in which people with the most preference points get
drawn first). Instead, our system is one that makes it more
likely that people with the most points will get drawn, but
there is still a chance that hunters with no points can get
drawn before someone who has accumulated several points.
The Department uses a computerized drawing system that randomly
selects from the pool of applicants in each of the hunt
categories offered. If you are not selected for a hunt in a
certain category, you receive a preference point for that
category.
Each preference point you have earned by not drawing a hunt in a
certain category acts like an extra application the next time
that you apply for that same category. For example, if you have
not drawn out for five straight times in the deer category, you
will be five times more likely to be selected in the deer
category than a first-time applicant. However, Oklahoma’s
controlled hunts have always been very popular, with lots of
hunters applying for a relatively small number of permits.
In some categories, hunters may apply in groups of up to four
people. Each applicant in the hunt group will be given a single
preference point if not drawn in that category. For group
applications, the preference points of each hunter in the group
will be averaged. If four hunters put in together – one with no
points, one with two points, and the other two with three points
each – the group’s preference points will be two, which is the
average of all four members.
Once you are selected for a hunt category, you lose all of your
preference points in that category, regardless of whether or not
you actually participate in the hunt. This means if you draw a
regular deer hunt, you lose your points in the deer category,
but not in the elk or antelope categories.
More Details About the Preference Point System
1. Preference points are tracked by either your social security
number or your driver’s license number. Always use the same
number every year to ensure you receive your preference points.
If the driver’s license number or social security number you are
currently applying with has changed since the last time you
applied for a controlled hunt, please contact the ODWC at (405)
521-3852.
2. Hunters do not have to apply every year to keep their
preference points. However, if you do not apply for five years
in a row, the computer will clear your file and all preference
points will be forfeited.
3. Preference points are not transferable from one hunter to
another, or from one category to another.
4. Big game hunts are progressively drawn. Elk hunts are drawn
first, followed by antelope, then deer. If a hunter is selected
for an elk hunt, they will receive preference points in the
other big game categories (antelope and deer) they have applied
for but will not be eligible to be selected in those categories.
Similarly, if they are not selected for elk but draw an antelope
permit, then they will receive a preference point in the elk and
deer categories, but will not be eligible to draw a deer hunt.
This is designed to ensure that no hunter is selected for
multiple big game hunts in the same year.
5. If you apply with a group for a Category 3 deer hunt and
individually for a Category 1 elk hunt, it is possible for you
to be drawn individually for the elk hunt and for your group to
be drawn for the deer hunt. In this case, since the three big
game categories, elk, antelope and deer, are progressively
drawn, you would be allowed to participate in the elk hunt, but
not with the rest of your group in the deer hunt. You would then
receive a preference point for Category 3 and the rest of your
group’s individual preference points for Category 3 would be
cleared to zero.
6. Successful applicants will lose their preference points
regardless of whether they actually participate in the hunt.
7. There is no maximum number of preference points an applicant
can accumulate.