This
information is shared as general information only. As part of
our service to our clients, we work with them and their selected
outfitters to ensure they have the appropriate legal
authorization to hunt, take and transport game where they are
hunting.
For big game, in many instances - but not
all - Outdoor Connection outfitters have "guaranteed tags"
(landowner hunting permits or outfitter sponsored hunting
permits). As you might expect, because it saves the hunter the uncertainty of
the draw and provides a guaranteed opportunity to hunt at a
given time and place, such hunts typically cost more than
those without guaranteed permits/tags.
Click here for up-to-date hunting rules and regulations for each
state and province
Hunting License
Permit
Hunting areas
Tag
How to get licenses, permits, tags
Bonus Points and Preference Points
Conservation Stamps and Habitat Stamps
HIP Permit
authorizes the bearer to
kill certain types of animals during specific periods of time
and are typically valid for 12 months. A general hunting license
is valid for animals that are not protected/controlled by state
or federal laws (such as rabbits, squirrels, etc). Often has
the option to be combined with a fishing license.
For other small game animals, varmints,
upland game birds and waterfowl designated by the state (most
commonly) or federal government (such as HIP, Sandhill Crane
Permit) as being protected, other hunting permits, stamps, tags
are required.
To hunt big game animals, which are
typically protected/controlled, other permits/tags are
required. Limiting the number of permits/tags distributed
prevents overcrowding in the field and controls the harvest of
game, based upon an area's size, habitat, game populations and
rules.
In some cases where animal populations
merit, there may be a "general season" for a particular species
allowing an unlimited number of permits to be sold. However, in
most cases, big game permits are limited, controlled in some
fashion such as quota (only defined number of permits/tags
available; permits/tags will be sold until allowed number of
animals are killed at which time the season will close) or draw
(limited number of permits/tags will be allocated to accurately
and completely filled out applications by some sort of
drawing/random method).
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- generally "permits" the bearer of
a general hunting license who also possesses a permit to "do"
something above and beyond that allowed by the general hunting
license, such as:
-
- • Permit to kill
a limited number (usually 1, occasionally 2) of a specific
animal not huntable with a general license, during a specific
date interval in a specific area often using a specific weapon.
In some states, these are referred to as species specific
licenses (i.e. deer license, instead of deer permit) or a game
tag.
- • Permit to use a certain
weapon (archery or muzzleloader permit)
- • Permit to allow hunting on
certain land (public or landowner)
-
- • Wildlife management zones (WMZ)
- • Wildlife management units (WMU)
- • Game Management Units (GMU)
- • Big Game Units (BGU)
- •
Cooperative Wildlife Management Units (CWMU)
- • Wildlife management areas
(WMA)
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generally refers to the temporary
record of a kill enabling the hunter to lawfully possess the
carcass. Literally speaking, the Tag is the piece of paper that
is attached to the antler/horn/carcass of the game animal to
identify it as legally taken and legally possessed. In some
states, these are combined with permits.
In today's electronic age,
license/permits, permits/tags are often issued as a single
document that lists all the privileges purchased. These
documents are typically not transferable; however, in some
states landowner permits/tags are transferable.
In most states, general hunting licenses
are available online or OTC.
Depending upon the state and species,
other permits/tags may be available- • over the counter (OTC) for
an unlimited number of hunters
- • OTC up to a quota (maximum
number) sold or harvested
- • through outfitters or landowners
- •
through a drawing from eligible applications.
... is to
accommodate those who do not want to draw a permit/tag unless
their hunting partners draw also. Again, the rules vary by
state.
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BP ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ... PP
  
In states where applicants far outnumber
permits/tags available for particular species, possibly in
particular regions and possibly for particular weapons, bonus
points or preference points may be available as an option to
increase odds of being drawn in a future year after an
unsuccessful draw application. While these programs have in common the
purpose of increasing draw odds for applicants in future years,
they are variably administered and executed. It is important to
carefully read the
rules and
regulations for the state in which you hope to hunt.
Some preference points are applied
for/purchased with the draw application; others are available
for purchase during a set date interval prior to the draw. Cost
varies from state to state and often from species to species.
Preference points are often only valid if draw
applications and point purchases are submitted annually. In
some states applicants must apply each year to retain preference
points; if an applicant skips a year, all preference points will
be forfeited. Other states allow applicants to submit an
improper application for or skip one (1) year without forfeiting
their accumulated points. In such cases, with a second improper
application or skipped year, the accumulated preference points
will be deleted. Again, this varies from state to state and may
change from year to year.
In theory, with a certain number of
preference points for a particular species at some point you
will be drawn. It might take 3, 5, 8, 12 or even more
preference points (i.e. years), but if you continue to apply to
the draw annually and purchase preference points every year,
eventually you should get your permit/tag. Note of caution:
just because all applicants with, say 3 points were awarded
their permit/tag this year, doesn't mean applicants with 3
points next year will get their permit. It is still dependent
upon total number of applicants and condition of the animal
population and will vary from year to year, region to region
within a given state.
For example, from Wyoming: "Beginning
in 2007, the Department shall allocate not less than
seventy-five percent (75%) of the available nonresident elk,
deer and antelope licenses to a preference point drawing and
twenty-five percent (25%) of the available nonresident elk, deer
and antelope licenses will be assigned to a random drawing in
which all unsuccessful applicants from the preference point
drawing shall be placed."
With bonus points there is no
"eventually" implied guarantee. A bonus point only provides an
additional opportunity in the draw. Think of it like buying
raffle tickets. If you buy 1 ticket out of 1000 sold, you have 1
chance to be drawn. If you buy 4 tickets out of 1000 sold, you
have 4 chances to be drawn. With bonus points, it is still
possible that someone with no bonus points will be drawn while
someone with 5 bonus points will not. Logic suggests having
bonus points is still better than not having bonus points.
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as an attempt to save waterfowl and
habitat, with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) between the
US and Canada. At a time when people adorned their hats
with egret feathers and signed their letters with pelican-quill
pens and sport hunters were lobbying for a law to unify state
hunting regulations, this coalition of visionary hunters and
conservationists ensured the protection of a healthy environment
for people, fish and wildlife for generations to come.
(http://www.fws.gov/pacific/migratorybirds/mbta.htm)
To further strengthen the MBTA, in 1934
President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Migratory Bird
Hunting and Conservation Stamp, commonly known as the Duck
Stamp. The Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act, one of the first
and most successful conservation programs in this nation's
history, requires the use of a migratory bird stamp for hunting
to raise funds for the conservation of migratory waterfowl.
Since 1934, sales of the federal Duck Stamp have generated more
than $700 million, allocated to purchasing, leasing, maintaining
and creating waterfowl habitat. These stamps are issued and sold
by the Postal Service and authorized locations.
In most states, wildlife and habitat
management efforts are not paid for by state taxes. The funds
for these endeavors come from the sale of hunting and fishing
licenses and federally administered taxes levied on various
types of hunting, fishing, and outdoor equipment purchases.
Hunters and anglers will continue to protect the resources
through license and equipment purchases, but with
ever-increasing pressure on wildlife and habitat, additional
help is needed.
Conservation stamps tend to be species
specific like the Duck Stamp (Trout Stamp, Salmon Stamp, Bear Stamp, etc.).
Habitat stamps benefit wildlife by preserving habitat. Similar
programs with similar goals accomplished by similar means and
methods.
Habitat and conservation stamps are
supported by hunters and anglers (may be required with the
purchase of certain hunting and fishing licenses in some states)
as well as outdoor enthusiasts and conservations (voluntary
purchase).
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http://www.fws.gov/hip/
Migratory Bird Harvest Information
Program (HIP) is a method by which state wildlife agencies and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW) are developing more
reliable estimates of the number of all migratory birds
harvested throughout the country. These estimates give
biologists the information they need to make sound decisions
concerning hunting seasons, bag limits, and population
management.
If you are a migratory bird hunter, you
must participate in the HIP (at no charge or for a minimum
charge just to cover processing). A few HIP participants will
be selected to voluntarily provide their harvest information.
Details are below.
How does HIP work?
HIP is a voluntary survey of selected
migratory bird hunters in the United States. The state wildlife
agencies collect name, address, and some additional information
from each migratory bird hunter in their state, and send that
information to the USFW. USFW randomly selects a sample of those
hunters and asks them to provide information on the kind and
number of migratory birds they harvest during the hunting
season. Those hunters’ reports are used to develop reliable
estimates of the total harvest of all migratory birds throughout
the country.
What does HIP require of hunters?
To comply with HIP, first you must
identify yourself as a migratory bird hunter and provide your
name, address, and date of birth at the time you purchase your
license--something most hunters do already. You must do this in
every state in which you hunt migratory game birds. Second, you must have carry proof of
your participation in HIP with you whenever you hunt migratory
birds in that state. The state wildlife agency will provide you
with a card, stamp, or other proof of participation when you
sign up.
In addition, when you sign up for HIP,
you will be asked to voluntarily answer several questions about
your hunting experience during last year's season. Your answers
to these questions are not used to compile harvest estimates,
but are simply used to identify what types of birds you usually
hunt. This allows the Service to mail its surveys to the
appropriate hunters. For example, most surveys about dove
harvest are sent to hunters who usually hunt doves, while most
waterfowl harvest surveys are sent to hunters who usually hunt
ducks and/or geese.
What do hunters gain from HIP?
Hunters were concerned about wildlife
conservation long before it was trendy to do so. They have a
long history of taxing themselves, paying license fees, buying
stamps all to ensure the health and vigor of wildlife
populations, hunted and non-hunted alike.
HIP is just another page in that
history. It is simply good conservation. As the threat to and
concern for migratory bird populations continue to mount, it is
essential to gather the best information possible about the
factors affecting these populations. It is in the hunter's best
interest to have wildlife management decisions based on
scientific evidence, not on opinions, philosophies, or politics.
The Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program, through the
cooperation of hunters, will provide wildlife biologists with
the facts they need to ensure our migratory bird resources and
hunting tradition will be around for future generations to
enjoy.
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