OREGON PREFERENCE POINT SYSTEM

If you do not draw your first choice for a particular hunt series, you are given a preference point for next year’s drawing. Each year that you do not draw your first choice you earn an additional preference point. When your first choice is finally drawn you lose all of your preference points for that hunt series. If you fail to apply for two consecutive years, your preference points will expire.

For each hunt, Oregon provides 75% of the tags for an initial “preference” drawing. This drawing is exclusively for applicants with preference points. Tags are issued first to those hunters with the most preference points. This continues until all 75% of the tags are issued or until there are no more applicants with preference points, whichever comes first. The rest of the tags, at least 25% of the tags, are then randomly distributed to all of the remaining applicants.

Preference points are transferable within a hunt series. For example, if you do not draw your first choice for Buck Deer, you can use your preference point next year for that same hunt or any other controlled Buck Deer hunt (100 series).

Preference points are not transferable between hunt series. Separate preference points are assigned for Buck Deer (100 series), Elk (200 series), Pronghorn Antelope (400 series), Antlerless Deer (600 series), Black Bear (700 series), and Additional Deer (800 series).
No preference points are assigned for Rocky Mountain Goat or Bighorn Sheep hunts.

HUNTER/ANGLER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER – Every hunter is assigned a permanent and unique Hunter/Angler ID Number. The ODFW uses this number to identify and track individuals. Your number is printed on all of your licenses and tags. Any preference points that you accumulate will be attached to this number. Because of this, it is very important that you keep and maintain the same number year after year.

Percentage Tags always recommends that you confirm your preference point status before applying for any controlled hunt. If you submit a party application you should also be certain of the preference points of everyone in the group. Trust but verify. You need only a person’s Hunter/Angler ID Number in order to check their preference point status.

To confirm one’s preference points you can phone the ODFW’s computer system 24 hours a day. In the Portland area, call 503.229.5463. Outside of Portland, call: 1.800.708.1782. You can also verify preference points through ODFW’s website at www.dfw.state.or.us.

If you discover a discrepancy with your points, call the ODFW in Portland at 503.872.5265.

POINT SAVER - If you are not planning to hunt in Oregon this year, you should apply for the Point Saver. It is not an application for a hunt; it is an application for a preference point. Next year, or even later, you will then have more preference points and thus a stronger selection of hunts from which to choose. The Point Saver hunt numbers for each hunt series are Buck Deer (199), Elk (299), Pronghorn Antelope (499), Antlerless Deer (699), Black Bear (799), and Additional Deer (899). If you apply for a Point Saver, do not make any other selection for that series.