apply (all applicants are put into an electronic lotto system) and aren’t selected you get a bonus point.
They highest number of bonus points are (usually) the ones who are selected first.
Some areas will take 2-3 bonus points to finally be successful, some take 30. If this was in Utah, units like San Juan, Mt Dutton, and Monroe will take 25 bonus points to draw. My guess is he’s probably in one of those units.
I have 10 bonus points for elk in Utah, I’m still 15 years from even having a chance at the unit I want.