Will Poston for SPLIT REED
When most waterfowl hunters think of premier Canada goose hunting locations, The Dakotas, the Chesapeake Bay, and, well, Canada come to mind. They generally don’t think of Wyoming. When those same folks think of the Cowboy State, they think of antelope. elk and mule deer, backcountry trout, and après ski beers. Aaron Garcia of High Plains Wingshooters, however, has quickly put to rest that misconception. Year in and year out he demonstrates why Wyoming is in fact a premier waterfowl hunting state and why High Plains Wingshooters is your premier outfit!
Much of Wyoming is the mountainous landscape many envision, coupled with safe flats and grasslands. The southeastern portion of the state, however, is nothing less than textbook waterfowl habitat. Expansive Ag land, access to water, and relatively mild winters, provide everything waterfowl need for winters. So they stay in the area significantly longer than in other regions and tend to congregate in big numbers. So, this little valley in the southeastern corner of the state enjoys massive concentrations of migrating and wintering waterfowl. HPW runs its operation right smack in this region—primarily Goshen County, Wyoming—and enjoys some of the best Canada goose hunting in the lower 48. Thanks to this concentration of waterfowl, 4-geese limits, and HPW’s efforts, Canada goose hunting with Aaron and his crew is simply some of the best in the country.
And trust us, hunting with HPW is an experience. Aaron is constantly expanding their footprint by adding leases to the dozens they already have. Further, nearly every hunt with HPW is done out of a pit blind. If you have never hunted out of pit blinds, there is really nothing else that compares to their effectiveness and comfort. Blowing 30 mph with a 0 degree wind-chill? Guess what, you’re warm and comfortable in a pit. Additionally, you will experience some of the closest, shots at decoying birds in your life while hunting out of a pit. That experience is par for the course at HPW.
Additionally, don’t think that HPW only excels at one game. When the opportunity presents itself, as it often can in this high quality waterfowl habitat, HPW will offer clients the opportunity to shoot ducks too. When a HPW guide asks a client that question, you know it’s going to be a homerun greenhead hunt. Finally, HPW is not a October-January waterfowl only operation. In the spring, when many waterfowl hunters are in peak-withdrawal, hunting Merriam turkeys with HPW can be the perfect relief. And with high success rates, thanks to the fertile private ground surrounding the North Platte River, HPW gives you a great opportunity to get closer to that North American Grand Slam!
If you are interested in hunting geese this season in a different setting or going on an adventure this spring, do not hesitate to give Aaron and the folks of High Plains Wingshooters a call! Also, follow along to read our interview with Aaron!
Canada Geese are HPW’s bread and butter, but what do you guys do behind the scenes to ensure clients’ success?
I have to give credit to our landscape, but scouting is key, as most hunters know. We spend countless hours of windshield time throughout the day. Hunting out of pits, as we do, is different because of the fact that we are not always on the “X”. So, we really have to scout and find what fields of ours have birds in them or, which fields are on heavy flight lines. Beyond that, HPW has some really great guides. All of our guides are hungry for this. They live it and love it. They are constantly sharpening their skills and furthering their knowledge.
The comfort and effectiveness of pit blinds cannot be understated. How much of an impact do you think they make?
Pit blinds are the only way to go for me. They allow you to hunt in a field that might not be easy to hide with layouts or panels. Although layouts and panels are good tools and have put their fair share of birds on the ground, a well dug and brushed pit keeps you concealed in a way that can’t be matched. Of course, the comfort and warmth of a pit is unmatched and a huge plus. Even if the hunting is tough, it’s easier to wait out the afternoon feed when you’re comfortable. Pit blinds make a huge impact on our hunting success. They allow us to run traffic more effectively while being comfortable when mother nature isn’t cooperating. If I have to run traffic, I would not want to be in anything else other than a pit blind.
I know we all have decoying geese and mallards on our minds, but before we know it, it will be turkey season again. Tell us a little bit about your Merriam Turkey hunts.
Turkey hunts are something that we just started in the last few years. Once seeing birds decoy gets into your blood, you never want it to end. Turkeys can prolong that exhilaration once waterfowl season ends. Our hunts are laid back—we try to model them after our waterfowl hunts, with concealment and comfort being key. We conduct our turkey hunts out of pop up blinds. We scout these birds daily in order to optimize our success. We have had mainly shotgun hunters but we also welcome bow hunters. We offer 3 day, fully guided hunts as we feel like 3 days gives us a great opportunity to see numerous birds and to harvest your turkey.
What’s this season shaping up to be?
We are coming off of two years of a historically subpar migrations. However, I have high hopes for this coming season. I will be interested to see the impact on the birds and migration, if any, with Canada closing their borders. I feel like it could lend a helping hand as maybe they won’t migrate down with as much pressure on them. If we can get the weather to drive them to us, which everything I have heard says we will this year, it has the makings of being a banner year! I feel good about the upcoming season. All we can do is all we can do. We will dang sure be ready for them when they show up. I just hope they show up in full force!
