87-2-117. License bonus point system. (1) The commission shall establish a bonus point system that gives an applicant who has purchased more bonus points more chances to receive a [hunting] license, tag, or permit over an applicant who has purchased fewer bonus points.

(2) A person may purchase only one bonus point per species per license year and may:

(a) purchase a bonus point when applying for a license, tag, or permit by paying the fee established in 87-2-113(2) per species; or

(b) purchase a bonus point without applying for a license, tag, or permit by paying the fee established in subsection (5). An applicant not applying for a license, tag, or permit may purchase a bonus point only between July 1 and September 30 in the current license year.

(3) The department may only apply any accumulated bonus points to a person's chance to obtain a license, tag, or permit if the person purchases a bonus point when applying for the license, tag, or permit.

(4) Bonus points may only be applied to first choice drawings.

(5) (a) A resident who does not apply for a license, tag, or permit may purchase a bonus point for $15 for each species for which a bonus point is made available by the commission.

(b) A nonresident who does not apply for a license, tag, or permit may purchase a bonus point for $25 for each species for which a bonus point is made available by the commission, except that the fee is $75 for moose, mountain goat, mountain sheep, and wild buffalo or bison.

(6) The department may not delete a person's accumulated bonus points unless the person obtains the license, tag, or permit associated with the bonus points, in which case the department shall delete the person's accumulated bonus points.

(7) (a) Except as provided in subsection (7)(b), the department shall square the number of points purchased by a person per species when conducting drawings for licenses, tags, and permits.

(b) For persons applying for licenses, tags, or permits as a party, the department shall calculate the average number of bonus points accumulated by the individuals listed on the party application, rounded to the nearest whole number, and square the average. Each individual retains their own bonus points unless the party obtains the licenses, tags, or permits associated with the bonus points, in which case the department shall delete each person's accumulated bonus points. (Bracketed language in subsection (1) deleted effective March 1, 2020--sec. 2, Ch. 360, L. 2019.)