Licensing & Preference Points
Planning your Wyoming or Montana hunt starts with understanding how licensing and preference points work. SNS Outfitter & Guides simplifies the process by applying for your licenses on your behalf, ensuring you're in the best possible position to draw the tags you need.
How Licensing Works
All hunting licenses in Wyoming and Montana are issued through a lottery-style draw system. These licenses are non-transferable by law.
Once you've booked your hunt with SNS, we’ll handle the application process for you, filling out and submitting your license applications directly to the appropriate state agency. Most of our hunts have high draw odds, and we will guide you through the options based on your goals and preference points.
License fees are not included in the price of your hunt and must be paid separately.
Application Deadlines & Fees
Wyoming Game & Fish (2.5% non-refundable processing fee applies)
| License Type | Deadline | Regular Fee | Special Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bull Elk | Jan 31 | $707.00 | $1,965.00 |
| Cow Elk | Jan 31 | $303.00 | N/A |
| Deer | May 31 | $389.00 | $1,215.00 |
| Doe Deer | May 31 | $49.00 | N/A |
| Antelope | May 31 | $341.00 | $1,215.00 |
| Doe Antelope | May 31 | $49.00 | N/A |
| Black Bear (OTC) | N/A | $373.00 | N/A |
| Moose | Apr 30 | $2,767.00 | N/A |
| Bighorn Sheep | Apr 30 | $3,017.00 | N/A |
| Turkey | Aug 15 | $74.00 | N/A |
| Gray Wolf (OTC) | N/A | $187.00 | N/A |
| Conservation Stamp | N/A | $12.50 | N/A |
| Special Elk Management Stamp | N/A | $15.50 | N/A |
| Archery License | N/A | $72.00 | N/A |
One conservation stamp is required per hunter.
A Special Elk Management Stamp is required for hunts at our Two Rivers Camp.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (3.25% processing fee applies)
| License Type | Deadline | Fee (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Combination | Apr 1 | $781.50 |
| Antelope | Jun 1 | $205.00 |
Montana license fees are subject to change annually by MFWP.
Payment Notes
- A 3.5% processing fee applies to license fees paid by credit card.
- SNS will provide payment deadline instructions after receiving your booking form.
Understanding Preference Points
Preference points are part of Wyoming’s and Montana’s draw systems, helping hunters increase their odds of drawing limited quota tags for high-demand areas. We strongly recommend building preference points, especially for elk, deer, and antelope hunts.
Wyoming Preference Points
- Non-resident hunters may purchase one point per species per year.
- Points accumulate annually until you apply for a license.
- 75% of licenses are awarded to applicants with the highest point totals.
- 25% of licenses are awarded randomly.
When to Purchase
July 1 through October 31 each year via Wyoming Game & Fish.
Skipping two consecutive years will forfeit all accumulated points.
SNS Preference Point Program (Wyoming Only)
We make it easy by handling point purchases for you.
How It Works:
- We collect payment for a 3-year block of preference points.
- We purchase your points annually during the application period.
- This program is for points only. License applications are submitted only after a hunt is booked.
Note: We do not invoice annually. Full payment is required at signup.
How to Enroll: Complete the Preference Point Sign-Up Form and submit it with payment. SNS will notify you when it’s time to renew.
Wyoming Preference Point Fees
| Species | Fee per Point |
|---|---|
| Elk | $52.00 |
| Deer | $41.00 |
| Antelope | $31.00 |
| Youth (All) | $10.00 |
Youth must be age 11 through 17 at the time of application. Moose and sheep youth points are priced the same as adult.
Admin Fee:
SNS charges a $75 admin fee per species, covering processing and handling.
Payment Methods:
We accept personal checks and all major credit cards.
Montana Preference Points
Montana’s preference point system differs from Wyoming’s and follows a separate timeline and set of rules.
Non-resident hunters may purchase one Montana preference point per year in advance of the year they intend to hunt.
Preference points may also be purchased at the time of license application.
Montana caps non-resident preference points at two points. Hunters who book with a licensed Montana outfitter may purchase an outfitter preference point at the time of application, which provides an additional advantage in the draw beyond the standard non-resident preference point cap.
SNS Outfitter & Guides purchases Montana preference points on behalf of our clients and submits license applications for booked hunts. We’re happy to help you understand how Montana’s system applies to your hunt and make sure your points and application are handled correctly.
Montana Preference Point Fees
| Species | Fee per Point |
|---|---|
| Montana Preference Point | $100.00 |
| Montana Outfitter Preference Point | $100.00 |
When Preference Points Are Essential
Some SNS hunts are in areas that are more difficult to draw without preference points:
- Record Book and Trophy Antelope
- Mule Deer and Antelope Combo Hunts
- Bull Elk
Need Help?
Still unsure which hunt is right for you or how many points you need? Give us a call. We're here to help.
Phone: 307-266-4229
Email:
Don’t Have Points Yet? Try the Random Draw
If you're just getting started or have 0 through 2 preference points, you still have a chance to draw a quality antelope tag through the SNS Random Antelope Application Program. Wyoming allocates 25% of its non-resident tags through a random draw, no points required.
This program is designed to give hunters without preference points an opportunity to experience a premium guided hunt with SNS.