Great Turnout for the Two Shot

Rose Ann and Bob Yates at Banquet Dinner

The top three teams were honored Friday, December 5, at the Cow Palace Inn, at the conclusion of this year’s Southeast Colorado Celebrity Two Shot Goose Hunt.  The dinner event and awards presentation was hosted by Bob and Rose Ann Yates, co-administrators of this year’s 48^th annual event.

Rose Ann Yates said earlier that, “We had great turnout for the President’s Reception on Wednesday and we raised from $26,000 to $27,000 this year.  The African Safari was priced about $1,500 more than last year and we had a great response to all the donated items.”  She added that $500 from a $1,000 donation will go to Beers and Brats for Boobies in memory of the fundraising founder, Jill Tinnes and additional donations will be made to the Lamar Area Hospice in Jill Tinnes memory from the auction proceeds.

“A lot of teams are committed for next year already and their signed up on a first come-first served basis and from there, the board decides which teams will come back for the next hunt.  Right now, we’re limited to only eight teams as we haven’t been able to get more guides for the goose hunt,” she stated.

Yates also had praise for the landowners who allowed the hunts on their property, “They’re very generous to our organization and we always try to pay them back by taking care of the land once the hunt’s over.”  Yates said the weather was a lot warmer than in years past, but the numbers of geese turned out well, “There were a lot in Rocky Ford and a member of one of the teams owns property there, so that area was used, as well as in Holly.

Table Rock, First Place Team

The first place team this year was Table Rock with Mike Johnson as the Upland Guide and Tristan Travis as the Goose Guide.  (Editor’s Note & ‘proud grandpa’…Tristan is a Wiley High School Senior who led last year’s Celebrity Team to a second place finish and in the past two years, placed ahead of his dad, Jeff Travis, who basically taught him all his skills.  Tristan’s brother, Trey, who is 12, may be leading his own team in several years as he’s following in the family footsteps)

Celebrity Team, Second Place

The second place team was the Two Shot Celebrity Team and Kyle Shoemaker was the Upland Guide and Colton Talton was the Goose Guide.

TNT Electric, Third Place Team

The third place team was a new entry this year, TNT Electric who used Kyle and Colton as their guides as well.

By Russ Baldwin