How do bonus points work in Nevada?

• A bonus point is an extra draw number assigned to an application. Bonus points increase draw odds by giving the applicant an extra chance to pull a low enough number to be assigned a tag.

• Bonus points can be accumulated for all species and classes available in the big game draw. Each hunt category has its own set of bonus points but not every hunt category can accumulate points. For example, Elk has three different categories of bonus points: Antlered Elk, Antlerless Elk, and Spike Elk. Elk Depredation hunts do not accumulate points. Management hunts also do not accumulate points.

• If an applicant is unsuccessful in the draw, the application automatically converts into a bonus point to be used in the following year’s draw (given that the applicant has an active hunting or combination license on file at the time of the draw).  Bonus points can also be purchased in place of submitting an application if an applicant does not wish to obtain a tag during the upcoming season.   

• An active hunting or combination license is required in order to obtain a bonus point. Only one bonus point per species and class can be obtained in the year the license is active. Customers will be prompted to purchase a license when submitting their application or to purchase only if successful in drawing a tag. Choosing to purchase only if successful will not earn a customer a bonus point.   

• Bonus points are squared to equal the randomly draw numbers an applicant is assigned in a draw, plus one extra number for your original application. (BP²) + 1 = # of chances to receive a low draw number. 

• Bonus points are lost if an applicant misses two consecutive years of applying for the hunt category.  

• Bonus points are residency agnostic, meaning that if your residency changes, your bonus points go with you. Note that some hunts are only offered to a resident. If a person cannot apply for a hunt due to hunt closures or residency changes, previously acquired points will remain static until the applicant is able to again apply for the hunt connected to the bonus points.  

• 11-year-old juniors who will turn 12 before the opener of the last hunt of the season may purchase a bonus point.

• Party hunt bonus points are factored into party hunt applications by averaging the bonus points across all party members, rounded to the nearest whole number, squaring the number, and adding 1. (total party member’s BPs/party members) ² + 1 = # of draw numbers assigned to the party hunt. The most ideal situation for all members of a party is applying with other members who have a similar amount of bonus points.  

• If a tag is returned to the Department by a member of a party hunting application, party hunt members will NOT receive their BPs back unless ALL members of the party return their tag before the season opens. A party hunt member may receive their bonus points back if the return was due to a medical, death, or military reason.   

• Bonus points cannot be purchased by an applicant in a waiting period.

• Bonus point applications for ALL big game species will be offered for sale in second draw. Only applicants who did not apply and earn a point or draw a tag in the main draw will be able to purchase a bonus point in the second draw. Applicants are limited to earning one bonus point per species, per license year.

• Juniors may only apply for either junior mule deer or general antlered mule deer in the same application season to prevent a single applicant from receiving multiple bonus points in the same category within a calendar year.