GOSHEN COUNTY – In a rare, but not unheard of, occurrence, a team of hunters from Cheyenne scored a repeat over the weekend to earn the top spot in the 31st annual Goshen County 2-Shot Goose Hunt.

Last year’s top duo of Mike Jensen and David Sweet, guided by Torrington’s Bryan Lemmon, bagged four geese on Saturday with a total weight of 37.95 pounds for first place in the annual event. They were one of five teams to bag their limit of four birds during the hunt, 2-Shot President Christin Covello said.

“It was an excellent year,” she said. “I don’t know how it compares to other years in numbers of geese, but we did have five teams with four geese, which makes it a little more interesting.”

Cactus Covello and Daniel Lindly, guided by Jeff Mueller, took second place with their four birds weighing in at 35.5 pounds. In third were the team of Dave Pawlicki and George Callahan and their guide, Matt Mattis, bagging 34.63 pounds on their four-bird limit. 

A total of 66 geese were brought in during the hunt. Each of the top three hunt teams and their guides were presented new shotguns during the annual banquet and art auction at the Goshen County Rendezvous Center on Saturday evening, wrapping up the weekend hunt for another year.

Christin Covello called the weekend a success.

“For 31 years, we’ve had a community that’s been committed to coming to support this event,” she said. “That allows us to direct our funds back into Goshen County, year after year.”

Proceeds from the annual hunts benefit several local agencies, including helping fund youth hunter education and waterfowl habitat restoration and maintenance efforts.

New this year was a Paint-and-Sip event, hosted by Torrington High School art teacher Steve Law. A total of 19 participants enjoyed cocktails and a mini art lesson on Saturday afternoon at the Rendezvous Center.

“It was a great hit with the participants and something we’d like to repeat in the future,” Christin Covello said. “We’ve changed things up over the years to be sure we’re accommodating what’s of interest to the community.”

Special guests again this year included Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead and Governor-Elect Mark Gordon, both veterans of the hunt. This was Gordon’s sixth hunt and Mead’s 10th, they said. While neither bagged a goose this year, both praised the event and the people involved.

“I want to congratulate the community and give thanks to the landowners and the great guides,” Mead said. “It’s created a number of memories for me.

“As we celebrate Wyoming, this is one of the reasons we celebrate,” he said. “A wonderful community coming together for an event that not only provides a great sporting opportunity, but really gives back to the community in a wonderful way.”

Gordon agreed: “It’s the camaraderie, the fun of the hunt, the friendships I’ve built here. It’s just wonderful.”

Gordon and Mead both took time off from their work on transitioning as Mead’s final term as governor winds down a Gordon’s is just beginning. Both said it’s time well spent, giving them a brief but much needed break from the duties of running the state.

“So many events (for the governor) are so formalized,” Mead said. “Here, I’m just one of the hunters. It’s a reprieve from the formal nature of my job.

“And I look forward to coming back,” he said. “As a Goshen County landowner, this is a place I’m looking forward to spending more time when I get through with the office.”

Gordon is facing double the duties during the transition, getting ready to step into the top office in Cheyenne, as well as wrapping up his current job as state treasurer. His primary focus has been getting the right team in place moving into the future, he said.

“It takes time to make sure we have the best team in place,” Gordon said. “Matt’s done a wonderful job, he certainly left the state in good condition. There’s some really good people already at work here.

“We’re excited, we’re nervous, we’re just learning as much as we can.”