Page 18 - January/February 2023 Outdoor Oklahoma

If you are selected, you will receive your hunt instruc- drawn from the pool of all applicants (excluding those who
tions at the email address attached to your online won hunts in the initial drawing).
GoOutdoorsOklahoma account. In some categories, hunters may apply in groups of up
to four people. An average of the total preference points of
HELPFUL TIPS all hunters is used for each hunter in the group. If not drawn
New for 2023 will be the chance to buy extra hunt choices in that category, each applicant in the group will earn a
at $3 apiece, which will be in addition to the basic $5 applica- single preference point that carries forward with the rest of
tion fee. This is yet another way hunters will be able to increase their points to future drawings.
their individual chances of getting drawn for a hunt permit. Once you are drawn for a hunt, all preference points that
If you want extra assurance of not losing your preference you have built up in that hunt category are cleared. You can
points just in case something unexpected comes up, you begin building preference points again with your applica-
might consider adding PointGuard to your application. tion next year in the deer and turkey categories. (Elk and
This “insurance” option is designed to protect your points pronghorn controlled hunts are once-in-a-lifetime draws;
in the event you are drawn but for some reason you won’t previous winners are not allowed to apply again.)
be able to go on your hunt. PointGuard will cost an addi- Here are some other tips for increasing your chances of
tional $5 over the basic application fee. winning a controlled hunt:
Each preference point you earn acts like an extra appli- • You can increase your odds of being drawn when you
cation for the next year. But if you know you cannot hunt apply for hunts that happen on key dates of the regular
this year and still want to earn a preference point, you can statewide seasons, such as the opening weekend of
now choose to mark your application as Preference Point muzzleloader or gun season. Many hunters may skip
Only. This allows you to earn a point this year that carries those dates because of already-planned hunts.
over to next year, but will keep your name out of the hunt • By designating additional choices, you increase your
drawings for this year. The PPO option is available as part overall odds of being selected for at least one of the
of the applicant’s $5 initial application fee. choices, so make as many selections as a category
Your chances of selection only get better each year you allows (five in the deer category, for example), rather
apply. If you’ve applied for the controlled hunt of your than just three, two or one.
dreams for five years straight without having been select- • Hunts that are considered by some to be less desir-
ed, then you will have five “tickets in the hopper” com- able, such as antlerless deer hunts, may be just the
pared to a first-time applicant, who will have one. right choice for a meat hunter looking to raise his
Although preference points increase your odds of selec- chances of getting to hunt at a premier location.
tion, they do not guarantee that applicants with the most • Consider the ratio of permits to applicants to help you
points will get drawn. What is guaranteed is that their odds decide which hunts might give you the best chance of
of selection improve. First-time applicants with no prefer- selection. A selection ratio of 1-in-25 is better odds
ence points can and do get drawn for popular hunts, while than a ratio of 1-in-80.
hunters who have many preference points can miss out • For those locations that offer multiple hunts in the
being selected. The pool size related to the number of hunt same category, the second or third hunts (the later
permits also affects one’s chances of being selected. hunts) are often easier to draw than the earliest hunts.
New this year, applicants holding 20 or more prefer- • You cannot submit more than one application per cate-
ence points in the once-in-a-lifetime elk and pronghorn gory. Since applications are completed and submitted
hunt categories will have a higher likelihood of winning a online, you will receive confirmation that your application
permit, as the drawing procedure has been enhanced for was completed correctly. This system helps to minimize
those categories. An initial drawing for half of the elk hunt mistakes, so make sure you receive confirmation of your
permits and half of the antelope hunt permits will be con- application. If you do have any issues, call the toll-free help
ducted from a pool of only those applicants having 20 or line listed at the bottom of the webpage, (833) 457-7285,
more preference points in the category. The winners for or send email to HelpDesk@gooutdoorsoklahoma.com.
the remaining half of hunt permits in each category will be (Compiled by the Outdoor Oklahoma Staff)

16 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA