Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters John Wooters- any fans?

I used to read Wooter's stuff first in Hunting. I too have a Sako Mannlicher 308 that is really my Wooter's tribute rifle. He was one of the first to write about management for big bucks and is largely responsible for people all over the country rattling and callin deer Texas style.

He wrote about hunting with lovely custom rifles, often with Mannlicher style stocks like his full stock Winchester 88 in 7mm-08 or his wife's full stock custom Ruger Ultralite in 308.

Regarding Mr. Balickie,one of the finest custom rifles I have ever seen was one of his. A custom stocked and tastefully engraved prewar model 70 in 375 H&H. The stock was a totally functional work of fine art made from incredible English walnut. It was owned by a friend who wanted to sell it for the princely sum of 2500 dollars in 1990. Yes,I am still kicking my self for not selling off a bunch of lesser guns and buying it. Did I mention that it wore a Schmidt and Bender 1.5-6 in custom claw mounts that worked and were engraved to match the gun?

Britt

Wooters was the only reason I subscribed to HUNTING. His was the only monthly article on whitetail hunting. Seems hard to believe now.

John Wooters has consistently produced what I believe to be some of the highest quality, in both substance and style, shooting and hunting prose that I have had the privilege of reading. His works have made my world a better and more interesting place.

Yes, put me on the fan list.
Many times while hunting I wonder to myself what would Wooters do with this situation.

Truely one of my very favorites.
I have a great many older 70's and early 80's magazine articles of his.
And an out of print book he put out in the 70's.

I've always enjoyed John Wooters writing too. He always seemed seemed to have deep, extensive knowledge about the subject he wrote on. He was easy to read, and his pieces always read in an honest manner. It never seemed like he was having to guess about something while sitting at the typewriter.

I'm glad to hear that he's alive and well. I'd love to visit over a cup of coffee with him someday.

I always enjoyed reading his articles, and learned a lot from his work when I was growing up.

And his Balickie Mauser 280? As a teenager I drooled over photos of that thing like it was a centerfold. It's no coincidence that years later, when I had my old P-64 fwt 30-06 restocked, it resembles that rifle.

I remember his "farewell" piece when he sold his deer camp because he was just offered too much money to turn it down. He should have waited a few years if he thought that was a lot of money.

I'm not faulting him and hindsight is 20/20, I'm just commenting on the parabolic rise in value for which he, no doubt, is partly responsible due to his writing.

To all,

Perhaps someone who knows Wooters well should invite him here to the campfire, to link this thread to him and to invite him to your get together next spring.

We was and still may be one of the best ever.

I'm also a fan of John Wooters writing. His hunting articles helped shape my understanding and love of hunting whitetail deer. One of his articles caused me to buy a Winchester Model 88. While I prefer bolt guns, I do agree with him that the 88 is a fine hunting rifle. It would be great if he were to join in here at this forum.

i remember reading an article about shooting the largest buck he ever shot. an old deer that he had to craw in the dark in south texas brush to get a shot at him at first light at a tank. if i remember the deer was was in the 150s and old. he wrote it was a natural real wild deer. a low fence buck raised on natural forbs not huge because of some unnatural agricultural crop. i don't completely agree with that. but i think he was commenting more on the quality of the buck he shot and how it had gotten to that size with very little help from humans either directly (supplimental feeding, high fence, selective breeding etc.)or indirectly (agricultaural crops etc.)

Place me high on the long list of his fans. Funny but I was thinking of him a week or so ago, wandering whatever happened. Thanks for the update. Good to know that such a knowledgable gentleman is still around.

Dave.

Back in the 80's there was friction between the smaller bore camp for big game (ala Jack OConnor) and the Elmer Keith camp that used the bigger bores. I like what John said. "Use enough Gun"! He was probably the one most responsible for awakening the desire in me for a .416.

John Wooters has cost me a small fortune but I sure aint' complaining. I have more rifles that I just had to have beause of his writing. Most recently the .416 project. It is shooting great and will soon be finished. Of all the gun writers I have read through the years he tops the list as the one I would like to meet. Glad to hear he is still around. reflex264

Wooters was and is a whitetail specialist who mastered the art of conveying the same quality in writing even if he was hunting a species for the first time such as his initial African reports.

I always like his subtle detail. He never drove a point down your throat, nor put himself on a pedestal. These are the gentlemen of the previous generation and we owe them for what they leave us and are bound to carry on, the elements of decency and self discipline they taught without intent.

He and his kind, are men of fabric. I never met John, but he took me on several hunts. I hope he lives long and smells Texas as long as it pleases him. Jeannie too, if she is like my American wife, she probably had a hand in his character.

AGW

I to am a Wooters fan and His writings got me on the right road to becoming a whitetail hunter. I bought a BLR in 308 because of his recomending that cal,also a 7/57 98 mauser because he taught me not to settle for a poor trigger.
I also stopped subscrbeing to hunting after he left now that people mention it.

A hunting buddy of mine actually bought Wooter's little Sako .308 with the mannlicher stock from Wooter's estate at the Tulsa Gun Show last year. Apparently John passed away in 2005.

Anyway I've got to shoot the little rifle that Wooters made so famous. It was a real thrill for me.

hubcap

hubcap: John is alive and well, living in Kerrville, TX

It took me years to find that same rifle, and I have hunted whitetails with it every year since I purchased it. I love hearing about all the connections to Wooters. One of the greats that will leave a lasting mark to the obsession with guns and whitetail hunting. That rifle started me out as a "Sakoluvr".

Can someone get this thread to him somehow?