How much is a point worth?

[Alan K]

After seeing that thread on Poacher points VS permit points, it got me thinking how much money the state would have to offer as an alternative to 10 points to have a reward of equal value to us hunters. 

So, how much would you pay for an additional point, with the option to place it in any category you're eligible for?


Personally, I'd be in the $50.00-$74.99 range.  Points aren't nearly as valuable here as they are in max points states, but I'd surely buy additional points each time I drew a permit to get my squared number up to where I had a little more than a shot in the dark's chance at drawing.

So where I'm going with this. . . The state would have to offer between $500.00-$749.99 for turning in a poacher to be offering me the same value as the value I place on the 10 points.

Curious to see where we all stand and what sort of value we put on ADDITIONAL points on top of what we already get each year.

[NWBREW]

I would not pay for any points....pay enough right now and it doesn't seem to matter.  I would also turn in a poacher whether or not I recieve points or money for it.    So for me it would be a big fat ZERO. Kinda like what I recieve for special permits I apply for every year. 

[Bob33]

At some point it's simply more cost effective to apply in other states.  In Idaho, for example, there are quite a few moose units with odds of 20% of better compared to Washington's odds of well less than 1%.  The Idaho permits are around $2000, however.  If someone offered me $1,000 or ten points, I'd probably take the money and use it to apply in another state because even with ten points the odds of drawing quality permits in Washington are still very low.

[Alan K]

I would definitely not buy any extra points for OIL stuff, far too much of a crap shoot.  It would be more for deer and elk permits.  Each time I draw, go ahead and work a couple extra weekends and dump $250 or so into 4 points increasing my odds 1600% from what it would otherwise be. Not to mention from then on each of your 'cheap' points helps you that much more.

[rtspring]

Not one damn dime,  There is no way of being sure that you will draw a tag with any number of points. We see it every year where some guy draws with 1 point when others have 25 and up. You simply have to be lucky. Not the best system but if you don't like it you have the option to hunt elsewhere. So for those of you who put in every year and have alot of points built up, I say good luck because luck is better than anything sometimes...........

[Bob33]

Alan, are you aware that cash can be taken in lieu of ten points?
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=232-28-291

6. Citizen reward for reporting violations - bonus points: A person who provides information which contributes substantially to the arrest of another person for illegally hunting or killing big game or an endangered species as defined by Title 77 RCW is eligible to receive ten bonus points toward the special hunting permit drawing for one application category of deer or elk special hunting season permits.

     A. Only ten bonus points can be awarded for providing information for each person charged regardless of the number of violations involved.

     B. Selection of bonus points is in lieu of application for a cash award.

[Alan K]

How much of a cash reward? What I'm curious about is if what they could offer (or currently offer) would be of the same value as the points to us in general.

[SkookumHntr]

The only way you should get a point is to apply and not get drawn or Ghost point! If the state said buy as many points as you want it would be a complete joke!

[Craig]

If they were true preference points like Colorado were the most points draws, I would pay for more. In WA you could have the most points and it's still random luck to draw. Not sure if I would pay for more.

[Alan K]

This is purely hypothetical, just a way to derive our valuations of points. Maybe the how much would you pay method wasn't the right way to think about it. . You can think of it this way too:

Say you convicted a poacher, and they offered you 10 points or the cash reward like they do now.  At what point do you take the cash in place of the points? If they were to offer you:

$0-$99.99?
$100.00-$249.99?
$250.00-$499.99?
$500.00-$749.99?
$750.00-$999.00?
$1000.00+?


Using either thought process it gets us to the same conclusion. The tipping point where we would rather take a point or cash.

[wilsongideon]

I wouldnt pay much more for points and if they allowed you to buy extra points I wouldnt apply at all....then it would be the same as the raffle, buy as many tickets as you can afford and some of us cant throw a extra 2-3 hundred dollars to compete. only difference between it and the raffle then would be that you would keep your points every year

if It was ten points added to every catagory or a hundred dollars I would take the ten points

[6x6in6]

The only way you should get a point is to apply and not get drawn or Ghost point! If the state said buy as many points as you want it would be a complete joke!

Which is why it wouldn't surprise me if they did put points up for sale.
It's all about revenue.   

[danceswitharrows]

I would never pay for points but I would take 10 points over $1000 to somewhat answer the question

[400out]

0 I would rather put it in gas and memories of the hunts  This falls in the same catagory as people that pay big money to go hunt private land ( not guided just hunt) you know how much I could do with that money!!!!!!!!! But if they have it then more power to them 

[DeerThug]

When it is  one inches long eye guard at a nice 2x2 on the last afternoon -

PRICELESS!!