SKFOOTER
Well-Known Member
Are the Milan Arsenal hunts shotgun/muzzleloader or are rifles allowed?
President's Island questions
- Thread starter Muy Grande
- Start date
Shotgun, but according to quota hunt instructions, muzzleloader can also be used on a shotgun quota hunt that TWRA offers. Rifles are not allowed at Milan.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
My bad.
Had it in my head wrong.
You are totally missing the point. milan allowed gun hunting, for years, draw hunts. Even with rifles, they didnt kill any really high scoring deer. Maybe a decent one, but rare. That area just doesnt produce the antler growth that the Mississippi River basin does. The whole point of hunters waiting years for the island is the remote chance at a higher than average scoring deer, even if it is bow only. lm glad milan is now offering hunts thru TWRA, but would l cash in my points for it? No. Back in the day,
The island has always had private areas being hunted by clubs. Gun hunting. But even so, back in the day, they drew 30 people for the island, had 6 to 7 kill really nice deer , bow only.
gobblesandgrunts
Well-Known Member
My question is, is the hunting at Milan good enough to skip the PI point and go hunt at Milan? I have always hear Milan had some great deer but I know absolutely no where to even begin with Milan. Any info is greatly appreciated.
how many points do you have for island? If you dont have many, then sure, pick any hunt you like. If you've been saving for years, got 9 or more, then no way. Reason being, PI is not a sure deal. It could end at any time.
gobblesandgrunts
Well-Known Member
pm sent your way
gobblesandgrunts
Well-Known Member
We only have 1 priority point. I dont get that either. So say we applied for milan and didn't get it, will we ba able to use that point in the furer for pi?
If your not drawn for the hunt you pick you will receive another preference point
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Just my opinion, but I think chance is better than not that PI will not be a WMA a decade from now. So for those with only a couple preference points or so, something to think about.
When I was drawn in 2016 (thinking I had at least 11 pref points), I did go ahead and apply in 2017 for PI simply because none of the other WMAs were appealing to me. Then I realized there was a fair chance I would be either dead or unable to hunt before I could possibly ever be drawn again, plus more than fair chance the PI WMA would cease to exist in the coming decade.
Every one of us is in a different situation, different location. My thinking is just look at these quota draw hunts as a "bonus" opportunity for which you can be drawn every other year. If you're young, an avid bowhunter, and don't find any these WMAs very appealing, then put in for PI. If I were younger and had never been there, that's what I would do.
Just weight it out.
Over the next 10 years, you're likely to be drawn for 5 or more weekend quota gun hunts if you don't hold out for PI. Most of the other WMA quota hunts can currently be had with a single preference point, sometimes no preference needed.
Truth is, much of the best WMA opportunity is on the non-quota hunts, and/or those WMA's with regs "same as statewide" simply because you can hunt them many days annually, and there is often less hunters on the non-quota than the quota hunts. So you may be forfeiting very little real opportunity by applying only for PI WMA over the next decade or so or until you get drawn there.
When I was drawn in 2016 (thinking I had at least 11 pref points), I did go ahead and apply in 2017 for PI simply because none of the other WMAs were appealing to me. Then I realized there was a fair chance I would be either dead or unable to hunt before I could possibly ever be drawn again, plus more than fair chance the PI WMA would cease to exist in the coming decade.
Every one of us is in a different situation, different location. My thinking is just look at these quota draw hunts as a "bonus" opportunity for which you can be drawn every other year. If you're young, an avid bowhunter, and don't find any these WMAs very appealing, then put in for PI. If I were younger and had never been there, that's what I would do.
Just weight it out.
Over the next 10 years, you're likely to be drawn for 5 or more weekend quota gun hunts if you don't hold out for PI. Most of the other WMA quota hunts can currently be had with a single preference point, sometimes no preference needed.
Truth is, much of the best WMA opportunity is on the non-quota hunts, and/or those WMA's with regs "same as statewide" simply because you can hunt them many days annually, and there is often less hunters on the non-quota than the quota hunts. So you may be forfeiting very little real opportunity by applying only for PI WMA over the next decade or so or until you get drawn there.
KeebMovin
New Member
I have 12 points this year. Do you guys think there is a chance I get drawn for Dec hunt?
Buzzard Breath
Well-Known Member
There's a whole lot of truth to this.
If the people above you want presidents island 13 will be the lowest number drawn. But nobody knows what they want???
I have 12 pts going into this year and plan to dump them for Milan.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
If you're an avid bowhunter, I'd still advise you hunt PI this year.
You should be drawn this year or next.
Then you can be like me, tell others it wasn't really worth the wait.
You've already "paid" for the PI hunt via forfeiting so many others over 12 yrs.
LOL... Wonder which hunt would be better for presidents island Oct or Dec. I guess weather would be the major factor. I would hate to give up a weekend in December with a rifle here at home to go to Presidents Island.
Dec for sure
I know ATVs are allowed for the Presidents island hunt , Do you have to keep them on the road system or can you just ride them anywhere?
When I was there we could ride atv anywhere but in the woods
