Goose hunters had much to be thankful for last weekend at the 47th annual Lundar Goose Shoot.
The two-day event started on Friday, Oct. 6, with a roast beef dinner, Calcutta, and field draw. Then, on Saturday morning, the 20 teams of hunters headed out to their fields to set up for the shoot.
From sunrise to noon, teams could shoot a total of 12 geese. Once they reached the quota or once noon came — whichever was first — they packed up and headed to the Legion for the weighing at 2 p.m.
The team of Joe Nordin, Darcy Brewer, Gerald McKay, and Travis McKay came in first at this year’s goose shoot. In second place were Don Law, Jack Cruise, Matty Law, and Mike Law. And in third place was the team of Keevin Erickson, Matthew Smith, Troy Appleyard, and Mike Christensen.
All hunters in the first, second, and third place teams received shotguns as prizes. The “hard luck” draw was won by Larry Weatherburn, Dave Coldwell, David Bouchard, and Gary Dandeneau, who didn’t place in the shoot but won guns from the draw.
This year’s heaviest goose was 13.25 lb on Don Law’s team. The smallest goose was on Dean Hynes’ team at 3.63 lb.
Kelsey Jean-Cocklin, the organizer of the shoot, said Dean Hynes’ team donated the duck decoys they won for the smallest goose back to the youth guides — Harley Halldorson, Hayden Halldorson, Easton Einarson, Liam Einarson, Theo Kell, Landon Hardy, and RJ Lavallee.
She said without the committee behind the event, it wouldn’t be the success that it is year after year. The annual goose shoot opens registration in April each year. Teams can only shoot every second year, never twice in a row. If you want a spot in next year’s shoot, watch Facebook for when registration opens to be sure your team gets a place — it fills up quickly, with teams coming from across the world for a shot at the geese.
