Yet another President Island?

[AT Hiker]

I am pretty sure I have 9 points going into this years draw, so my odds are looking decent for drawing this year. I do not know the point holder numbers but I am assuming I have a realistic chance this year.

So the questions are;
1.) Would this year be a good year to try and draw or better to wait one more year. Im speaking on the rumors of deer numbers from the previous flooding.
2.) Ensley or excluding Ensley? I have never stepped foot on any of it and the only thing I recall hearing about is that Ensley can be tough during low water.
3.) I know there are a couple of us on here with high points, who else feels good about your chances this year?

 

[catman529]

Not ensley, I'd put in for the main island


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[AT Hiker]

You doe hunted the island last year right, Catman?


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[PickettSFHunter]

I don't think you can wait. I believe you lose your points if you don't apply. And there's nothing else to apply for that you wouldn't be guaranteed to get. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong because I may be.


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[AT Hiker]

I don't think you can wait. I believe you lose your points if you don't apply. And there's nothing else to apply for that you wouldn't be guaranteed to get. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong because I may be.


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I believe the way around it is by applying with someone who has less points than you in a group.


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[spoon]

You do not lose your points by not applying.

 

[muddyboots]

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Here's this years numbers. You don't lose ur points if u don't apply. You just don't gain one. You can put in with a party with someone with lower number to ensure not getting drawn and still gain a point. I would go ahead and try to draw. Say something happens and nobody gets to hunt it next year.

 

[AT Hiker]

Thanks for that chart muddyboots!

Now, which one to apply for...


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[UpperTully]

I am pretty sure I have 9 points going into this years draw, so my odds are looking decent for drawing this year. I do not know the point holder numbers but I am assuming I have a realistic chance this year.

So the questions are;
1.) Would this year be a good year to try and draw or better to wait one more year. Im speaking on the rumors of deer numbers from the previous flooding.

Strictly basing my opinion off the experience of hunting along the Miss River for 20+ years, I would still put in for it. Spring flooding wasn't a big issue this year, but the flooding during duck season did flood most of the island thats below the levee, but not as severe as 2011. Im positive there would be some mortality involved from that flood though. I know some hunters most successful seasons during their hunting career was the season following the big flood of 2011. It seems the older deer have a better survival rate and return to their home range once the flood waters recede.

2.) Ensley or excluding Ensley? I have never stepped foot on any of it and the only thing I recall hearing about is that Ensley can be tough during low water.

Ensley Unit is inside the levee, Presidents Island is not. I personally would choose Presidents Island, it seems there is a better success rate. I've also seen numerous reports of deer fleeing over the levee once hunters begin accessing Ensley.


Good luck getting drawn. Im sitting at 6 priority points right now. So its still a waiting game for me.

 

[muddyboots]

I always just put in for the island.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Learn something every day.. Thanks


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[Crosshairy]

The Ensley Unit is essentially a big block of woods in the bottoms, so it's harder to hunt than the "island" - the island is broken up by fields, so the timber does not stretch for endless yards in all directions. This makes it easier to identify various funnels on a map and narrow down choices remotely before ever setting foot on the place.

I recall Winchester hunting the Ensley Unit a few years back - you might want to get his boots-on-the-ground input on the matter.

I've hunted the island several times for the doe hunt, and have shot a couple deer on it. I think it's a pretty fun hunt, and I really like being able to pick a spot on Google Earth, walk it down, verify your suspicions, and see/shoot deer.

The first year I hunted it was pre-flood (did not kill a deer), but the rest of the hunts were afterward.

There are enough of us on here that have hunted the island that we can give you some pretty decent spots to start looking in the event you get drawn.

Good luck!

 

[catman529]

You doe hunted the island last year right, Catman?


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yea I did and it's 6,000 acres to roam


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[muddyboots]

I've got 7 points. Be a little while for me but man it will b worth the wait if it is anything like it was the first time. Changed my deer hunting all together.

 

[UpperTully]

Here's this years numbers. You don't lose ur points if u don't apply. You just don't gain one. You can put in with a party with someone with lower number to ensure not getting drawn and still gain a point. I would go ahead and try to draw. Say something happens and nobody gets to hunt it next year.

Those numbers with 0 and 1 priority point is unreal.

 

[Mike Belt]

Put in for the Island. You stand a real good chance of drawing. Flooding hasn't been a major issue since the big flood several years back but deer numbers and the sign you see still haven't recovered to pre-flood stages. I went on the buck hunt pre-flood and saw deer out the nanny. I was finally drawn again last year and crushed my hip and broke my leg so I missed it. I guess if it's still open I might can draw a bow back when I'm 75, lol.

 

[Bone Collector]

I should have 5 but I am an idiot and did not apply in 2011 and 2012. Just didn't realize the way it worked. I have 3 now I think.

If you have 9, you have a decent chance, but it is not a sure thing. Based on the chart, only 22 people will be drawn from the 9 point group. That being said, if you don't get drawn and end up with 10 next year you still are not guaranteed to draw with 10 pts. Theoretically you aren't guaranteed to draw with 11 either..... unless they force people to the Ensley unit. It appears that if a lot of people follow you and apply to hunt the island, you could theoretically be waiting another year or two.

In short I'd Apply and keep stacking points.

 

[muddyboots]

Here's the year before for comparison

 

[callemquacktn]

I've got 9 going into this draw too

 

[Mike Belt]

My group of 5 was drawn last year with 9 points.

 

[AT Hiker]

Good stuff everyone! Maybe a few of us in here will draw.


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[Mid-Tenn]

I wonder how many points it would take to draw for the Ensley unit. I drew the main island last year with eight priority points and will be starting over with 0 this year.

 

[AT Hiker]

I wonder how many points it would take to draw for the Ensley unit. I drew the main island last year with eight priority points and will be starting over with 0 this year.

It will still take max points or close, i.e. 7 or more Im guessing.


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[bambikiller423]

Where did that chart information come from

 

[fairchaser]

I'm sure there are some deer that leave Ensley once the hoard shows up but how is this any different than PI. In fact, PI gets more pressure with their doe hunts. Also, what about pressure from surrounding property? I'm sure they love that first week of December when deer get pushed onto them. Most deer will relocate to another area in their home ranges but not go into parts unknown. They could be running to more danger. PI has a slightly better success rate but not enough to wait 3 or more years. JMO.

 

[muddyboots]

Where did that chart information come from

Twra quota lady emailed them too me.

 

[fairchaser]

I'm sure there are some deer that leave Ensley once the hoard shows up but how is this any different than PI. In fact, PI gets more pressure with their doe hunts. Also, what about pressure from surrounding property? I'm sure they love that first week of December when deer get pushed onto them. Most deer will relocate to another area in their home ranges but not go into parts unknown. They could be running to more danger. PI has a slightly better success rate but not enough to wait 3 or more years. JMO.

I understand hat the problem on the Ensley unit is that all of the hunters are entering the area from the same access point, thus walking in the same direction and pushing the deer out. If it's a high water year, there may not be a whole lot of dry ground, either. The island spreads hunters out considerably. You have guys hitting the power line trails way back while many others are looking for a field edge near a trail or a cul de sac. Others are hunting just behind the camping area. While the pressure is sudden, it's not focused and coming from one direction.

I've never been on the Ensley Unit, but I have heard that sightings can be 0 after the first 20-30 minutes of light on the first hunting day. If you're not seeing deer on PI, you will eventually or you can uproot to 2 miles away. While participating in the doe hunts, I routinely saw deer that had no idea there were hunters there and were out moving and feeding at noon. I also saw great many deer running out of the fields and into the woods before first light. They would lock down for awhile and then start moving about mid morning. If do you hunt PI, be in the woods. -too many pressure related variables on he field edges.

I've hunted it twice and had unbelievable hunting experiences everyday. Maybe things have changed, but I'm willing to spend my points there.

 

[BigAl]

I'm a little confused by my number of points. I got a PI draw in 2009. I've applied most years since then but thought I missed one. I only have 4 points. I would think I would have at least 5. Who could tell me which years I didn't apply? I assume there's no way for me to look it up.

 

[Andy S.]

Who could tell me which years I didn't apply? I assume there's no way for me to look it up.

Call the Quota Hunts Division at 615-781-6621 and see what they can tell you.

 

[catman529]

I'm sure there are some deer that leave Ensley once the hoard shows up but how is this any different than PI. In fact, PI gets more pressure with their doe hunts. Also, what about pressure from surrounding property? I'm sure they love that first week of December when deer get pushed onto them. Most deer will relocate to another area in their home ranges but not go into parts unknown. They could be running to more danger. PI has a slightly better success rate but not enough to wait 3 or more years. JMO.

the main island is huge, and there aren't usually more than 20 people on the doe hunt. And it is 2 months before the buck hunt, so the pressure isn't even a factor. The bottom line is that it is only hunted a couple of times every season, and only with archery equipment. The deer are unpressured, there are plenty of them and many of the bucks are huge. Your odds of killing a buck of a lifetime are WAY higher at PI than most anywhere else you can hunt. That's why so many people apply, and why it takes 9+ years to draw. If I was gonna put in for that many years, I sure as heck wouldn't want the smaller ensley unit that has a much lower success rate.


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