GOSHEN COUNTY – The annual 2 Shot Goose Hunt, which was started in Goshen County, has its 30th installment this weekend, with events for the whole family.

The 2 Shot Goose Hunt takes pairs of twos into blinds across the area with an experienced local guide and two shots apiece. The pairing takes their two shots each at geese that must be in flight and the pairing with the most geese wins the event. If there is a tie in number of geese, the overall weight of the geese is used to determine the winner.

The hunting portion of the weekend draws a large crowd, from current Gov. Matt Mead attending the 2 Shot several times, to previous governors doing the same. Hunters from across the state and even across the country come to Goshen County to test their skills in the annual 2 Shot.

Dignitaries this year include Mead, State Treasurer Mark Gordon, Commissioner of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Pat Crank, Director of WGFD Scott Talbot and Director of the Wyoming Wildlife and National Resource Trust Bob Budd. Former Gov. Dave Fredunthal will also be in attendance, along with ATA trap shooting All-American Phil Kiner and ATA 2017 President John Burke. Tony Covello and Monte Roberts, the 2016 2 Shot winners, are also set to partake in this year’s goose hunt.

Even though the hunt brings a large crowd, it is not the only draw for this weekend. Throughout the weekend, there will be an art show at the Rendezvous Center at the Goshen County Fairgrounds, starting at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.

This year’s artists include Torrington resident Julie Nighswonger and Hawk Springs native Casey Hunter. Dustin Stephenson (Ten Sleep) and Tom Mulhern (Cheyenne) will both be slated to exhibit their talents. Dave Pawlicki, Monte Stokes and LeTisha Smith round out the artists for this year.

“We try to cater to as many people as possible,” Christin Covello, who is in her fourth year as president of the 2 Shot Goose Hunt, said. “It’s not just a hunt or an art show, but we try and reach a wide range of people.”

On top of the art show and hunt, there is an auction with a variety of items, including hunting and fishing trips to art. This year will also see the return of the Wall of Guns, where a minimum of 10 guns will be raffled off both Friday and Saturday night. One of the items auctioned off is a hunt with Heartland Waterfowl TV, who will also be in attendance for the 2 Shot.

The money collected throughout the weekend from raffles and auctions goes back to the community. 2 Shot supports three $1,500 scholarships to Eastern Wyoming College and they also donated $25,000 to the new ATEC building on campus.

There is also an engraved shotgun commemorating the 30th anniversary of the 2 Shot that will be raffled off.

“It’s quite significant,” Covello said of the 2 Shot being around for 30 years. “We have a big amount of community support. To be able to not only build this event 30 years ago, but still keep it going with 500 people attending every year is great.”

As for the 30th year, Covello said the event is scheduled as it has been in the past, with only minor changes to the schedule from year to year.

“It’s the same regular routine that we have had in the past,” she said. “We have definitely found what works, but we still make minor tweaks.”