1. (1) Smith River bonus points are non-refundable and non-transferable between applicants.
2. (2) Smith River bonus points do not apply to hunting permits or licenses.

3. (3) A person may purchase only one bonus point per year and may:

   1. (a) purchase a bonus point when applying for a Smith River permit by paying the fee established in 23-2-409, MCA; or
   2. (b) if the person is otherwise eligible to apply for a Smith River permit and chooses not to apply that year, purchase a bonus point only between July 1 and September 30 of that year.
4. (4) The department may only apply accumulated bonus points to a person's chance to obtain a Smith River permit during the lottery if the person purchases a bonus point when applying for the permit.
5. (5) The department shall mathematically square the number of bonus points a person has accumulated when conducting the lottery for Smith River permits.
6. (6) If an applicant for a Smith River permit has elected to participate in the bonus points program and is unsuccessful in the drawing, they shall retain the bonus points they purchased.
7. (7) An applicant's bonus points accumulate until the applicant is successful in drawing a permit.
8. (8) If an applicant is successful in drawing a Smith River permit, the applicant's bonus points are reduced to zero for the Smith River.

9. (9) If the following special circumstances occur, an applicant who is successful in drawing a Smith River permit may retain their accumulated bonus points if the applicant:

   1. (a) is a member of the armed forces and is either deployed outside the continental United States in support of a contingency operation as provided in 10 U.S.C. 101(a)(13) or deployed in response to a state or national emergency; or
   2. (b) is affected by a catastrophic or major natural disaster or man-made event that requires the applicant's assistance as a member of a local, state, or federal management agency.
10. (10) A qualifying applicant under (9) must notify the department a minimum of 14 days prior to the launch date of their permit.
11. (11) The director or designee may authorize exceptions for extenuating circumstances.

Authorizing statute(s): 23-1-102, 23-1-106, 23-1-111, 23-2-408, MCA

Implementing statute(s): 23-2-408, 23-2-409, MCA

History: NEW, 2023 MAR p. 1607, Eff. 11/18/23.