Steve
02-03-2000, 07:21 PM
Dear Bear Hunter,
The DNR is changing the way bear hunting licenses are issued, beginning with the 2000 bear season. Because this is the first year for the new system, licenses will be issued in the same way as previous years. That is, everyone who applies will have an equal chance of drawing a 2000 bear hunting license. These licenses will allow the holder to take a legal bear during a specified hunting period in a designated management unit. This year, however, hunters who apply and are not issued a license will receive a "preference" point. Applicants who choose an option to forfeit the license selection process altogether, also will receive a point by completing an application. Preference points are awarded following the selection process. Beginning next year, applicants with the greatest number of points will receive licenses and their point totals will return to zero. Hunters who do not apply for three consecutive years also will forfeit any points they have accumulated. Wildlife managers commonly refer to this process as a "cumulative preference point" system.
This system guarantees that everyone who applies will receive a license in the future. How often a person draws a license depends on the bear management unit and hunting period that he/she wishes to apply for. Some bear management units, such as the Red Oak Unit in the northern Lower Peninsula, always have had a large number of applicants. Because there generally are few licenses allocated to this unit each year, the number of points needed to receive a license in that unit may be substantially greater than the number required for a unit in the Upper Peninsula. This means that hunters who apply for areas with lower application numbers may receive a second license before hunters in areas of high application rates receive their first. All things considered, this new system will ensure that everyone who is persistent in applying for a bear license eventually will receive one. This is a major change from the former drawing system, where everyone who applied had the same chance of drawing a license regardless of their past drawing success. The random lottery resulted in some hunters receiving several licenses while others did not receive any, simply by chance. The new drawing system will correct that problem.
In addition to changing to a cumulative preference point drawing system, the DNR will move the bear license application deadline forward by one month. Hunters can apply at license agents and DNR offices that sell licenses beginning April 15, 2000. The application deadline date will be May 15, 2000. Bear hunters requested this change to allow them more time to plan their bear hunting activities. Because of the earlier application period, hunters will find "preliminary" license quotas in the application guide. These are our best guess at the number of permits that will be available for each hunting period. We do not anticipate final quotas will be significantly different from the figures printed in the guide, and therefore should be of little consequence when deciding what hunting period to apply for.
Sincerely,
Tim F. Reis
Bear Management Specialist
Wildlife Bureau
Some details about the new cumulative preference point system for issuing bear hunting licenses*.
Hunters receive a preference point each year that they are unsuccessful in obtaining a harvest tag.
Applicants have the choice of applying for a harvest tag, or electing to purchase and bank a preference point; only one point may be purchased in a given year.
Each year, licenses for a particular hunting period and unit are issued in descending order of total point accumulations until there are not enough remaining licenses to fully satisfy a point class, at which time a random selection will be held from within that point class for remaining licenses.
Up to four hunters may apply as a party; the party's preference standing will equal that of the party member with the fewest number of points; all party members will receive a tag if the party is selected.
A person's preference standing will return to zero points upon selection, including successful applicants who are notified and do not purchase their license.
Preference points will first be awarded following the year 2000 drawing (preference standing will not be retroactive).
Any person making a duplicate or faulty application is eliminated from the selection process, but awarded one point.
The current limit on the number of nonresident licenses issued (no more than 2% of the available tags) remains in effect. Therefore, nonresidents will require a greater number of points than residents to obtain a license.
A person must apply at least once every three years; persons who fail to apply for three consecutive years will lose their points.
Bear hunters will continue to apply and purchase licenses at POS terminals.
Definitions
Preference points: are used to determine who will receive a bear hunting license each year. A preference point is awarded to anyone who applies for license but does not receive one, or applies but elects not to be considered for a license. Those who do not apply but purchase a Participation License over the counter will not receive a preference point.
Point class: Applicants with the same number of preference points represent a point class.
Preference standing: Applicants for each hunting period are ranked from highest to lowest points. Those with the highest number of points are issued licenses first each year.
The Application Process ***.
The application period for the 2000 bear hunting season in Michigan begins April 15 and runs through May 15. Hunters may apply for a bear hunting license through the DNR Retail Licensing System. Retail Licensing System outlets are located at many DNR offices and at 1,700 authorized license agents throughout the state. Telephone sales will be available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) at 800-898-6367 beginning April 17. Visa or MasterCard will be accepted, and a $3.50 service fee will be added to each telephone transaction.
To apply, you will need one of the following customer identification cards: a valid Michigan Driver License, Michigan DNR Sportcard (issued at any license agent for $1) or a State of Michigan Identification Card (issued by the Secretary of State) with additional proof of Michigan residency. Your identification cards must show your current address. Hunters must be 12 or older during the season for which they are applying. Youngsters 12 and 13 are restricted to archery-only hunting.
You may apply only once. It will cost all applicants, except Comprehensive Lifetime License holders, $4 to apply. This fee must be paid at the time of application and is nonrefundable. The application fee is used to help offset the costs of administering the drawing.
You may apply individually or with up to three other partners. Partners must apply for the same hunt. The first applicant of each partnership will receive a party ID number. The remaining partners will require this party ID number when applying to complete the partnership.
You should carefully review the application guide and complete the worksheet in the guide before starting the application process with a license agent. This will expedite the process and help reduce the chances for error. You will receive a receipt of your application. It is important that you carefully read the receipt to ensure your information was entered properly into the computer. Retain your receipt as proof of application.
Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by mail. Notification cards will be mailed by June 15, 2000. Successful applicants will take their notification card to a DNR office that sells licenses or an authorized license dealer to purchase their bear hunting license. The license fee must be paid at this time.
Applicants who make more than one application, falsify information or apply with more than the allowable number of party members will be ineligible for the drawing. In some instances, some party members may be ineligible for the drawing.
Hunting licenses may not be altered or transferred to another person by law.
Scott Berg
Communications and Outreach Specialist
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Law Enforcement Division
Report All Poaching Section
517-241-9477
E-mail: bergs@state.mi.us
The DNR is changing the way bear hunting licenses are issued, beginning with the 2000 bear season. Because this is the first year for the new system, licenses will be issued in the same way as previous years. That is, everyone who applies will have an equal chance of drawing a 2000 bear hunting license. These licenses will allow the holder to take a legal bear during a specified hunting period in a designated management unit. This year, however, hunters who apply and are not issued a license will receive a "preference" point. Applicants who choose an option to forfeit the license selection process altogether, also will receive a point by completing an application. Preference points are awarded following the selection process. Beginning next year, applicants with the greatest number of points will receive licenses and their point totals will return to zero. Hunters who do not apply for three consecutive years also will forfeit any points they have accumulated. Wildlife managers commonly refer to this process as a "cumulative preference point" system.
This system guarantees that everyone who applies will receive a license in the future. How often a person draws a license depends on the bear management unit and hunting period that he/she wishes to apply for. Some bear management units, such as the Red Oak Unit in the northern Lower Peninsula, always have had a large number of applicants. Because there generally are few licenses allocated to this unit each year, the number of points needed to receive a license in that unit may be substantially greater than the number required for a unit in the Upper Peninsula. This means that hunters who apply for areas with lower application numbers may receive a second license before hunters in areas of high application rates receive their first. All things considered, this new system will ensure that everyone who is persistent in applying for a bear license eventually will receive one. This is a major change from the former drawing system, where everyone who applied had the same chance of drawing a license regardless of their past drawing success. The random lottery resulted in some hunters receiving several licenses while others did not receive any, simply by chance. The new drawing system will correct that problem.
In addition to changing to a cumulative preference point drawing system, the DNR will move the bear license application deadline forward by one month. Hunters can apply at license agents and DNR offices that sell licenses beginning April 15, 2000. The application deadline date will be May 15, 2000. Bear hunters requested this change to allow them more time to plan their bear hunting activities. Because of the earlier application period, hunters will find "preliminary" license quotas in the application guide. These are our best guess at the number of permits that will be available for each hunting period. We do not anticipate final quotas will be significantly different from the figures printed in the guide, and therefore should be of little consequence when deciding what hunting period to apply for.
Sincerely,
Tim F. Reis
Bear Management Specialist
Wildlife Bureau
Some details about the new cumulative preference point system for issuing bear hunting licenses*.
Hunters receive a preference point each year that they are unsuccessful in obtaining a harvest tag.
Applicants have the choice of applying for a harvest tag, or electing to purchase and bank a preference point; only one point may be purchased in a given year.
Each year, licenses for a particular hunting period and unit are issued in descending order of total point accumulations until there are not enough remaining licenses to fully satisfy a point class, at which time a random selection will be held from within that point class for remaining licenses.
Up to four hunters may apply as a party; the party's preference standing will equal that of the party member with the fewest number of points; all party members will receive a tag if the party is selected.
A person's preference standing will return to zero points upon selection, including successful applicants who are notified and do not purchase their license.
Preference points will first be awarded following the year 2000 drawing (preference standing will not be retroactive).
Any person making a duplicate or faulty application is eliminated from the selection process, but awarded one point.
The current limit on the number of nonresident licenses issued (no more than 2% of the available tags) remains in effect. Therefore, nonresidents will require a greater number of points than residents to obtain a license.
A person must apply at least once every three years; persons who fail to apply for three consecutive years will lose their points.
Bear hunters will continue to apply and purchase licenses at POS terminals.
Definitions
Preference points: are used to determine who will receive a bear hunting license each year. A preference point is awarded to anyone who applies for license but does not receive one, or applies but elects not to be considered for a license. Those who do not apply but purchase a Participation License over the counter will not receive a preference point.
Point class: Applicants with the same number of preference points represent a point class.
Preference standing: Applicants for each hunting period are ranked from highest to lowest points. Those with the highest number of points are issued licenses first each year.
The Application Process ***.
The application period for the 2000 bear hunting season in Michigan begins April 15 and runs through May 15. Hunters may apply for a bear hunting license through the DNR Retail Licensing System. Retail Licensing System outlets are located at many DNR offices and at 1,700 authorized license agents throughout the state. Telephone sales will be available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) at 800-898-6367 beginning April 17. Visa or MasterCard will be accepted, and a $3.50 service fee will be added to each telephone transaction.
To apply, you will need one of the following customer identification cards: a valid Michigan Driver License, Michigan DNR Sportcard (issued at any license agent for $1) or a State of Michigan Identification Card (issued by the Secretary of State) with additional proof of Michigan residency. Your identification cards must show your current address. Hunters must be 12 or older during the season for which they are applying. Youngsters 12 and 13 are restricted to archery-only hunting.
You may apply only once. It will cost all applicants, except Comprehensive Lifetime License holders, $4 to apply. This fee must be paid at the time of application and is nonrefundable. The application fee is used to help offset the costs of administering the drawing.
You may apply individually or with up to three other partners. Partners must apply for the same hunt. The first applicant of each partnership will receive a party ID number. The remaining partners will require this party ID number when applying to complete the partnership.
You should carefully review the application guide and complete the worksheet in the guide before starting the application process with a license agent. This will expedite the process and help reduce the chances for error. You will receive a receipt of your application. It is important that you carefully read the receipt to ensure your information was entered properly into the computer. Retain your receipt as proof of application.
Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by mail. Notification cards will be mailed by June 15, 2000. Successful applicants will take their notification card to a DNR office that sells licenses or an authorized license dealer to purchase their bear hunting license. The license fee must be paid at this time.
Applicants who make more than one application, falsify information or apply with more than the allowable number of party members will be ineligible for the drawing. In some instances, some party members may be ineligible for the drawing.
Hunting licenses may not be altered or transferred to another person by law.
Scott Berg
Communications and Outreach Specialist
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Law Enforcement Division
Report All Poaching Section
517-241-9477
E-mail: bergs@state.mi.us