When John and I sold “Los Cuernos” Ranch in South Texas we settled in the Texas Hill Country. We named our place “Chital Ridge” after the local Axis deer who share the ranch. John took his resume in to Clint Schroeder, owner of the local West Kerr Current because he wanted to keep writing. Clint said he couldn’t afford him and John replied that he didn’t ask to be paid! Between October of 2003 and 2013 John wrote over 400 stories. I am thrilled to share some of them here.
John said these weekly columns were some of his most enjoyable work. No pressure, no one dictating what he wrote about, just fun stories about what was on his mind and in his heart. ENJOY! Jeanne Wootters January 2019
Aging Deer on the Hoof
Jan 1, 2004
Most of my hunting friends and I regard any old buck as a trophy buck, regardless of antler size. The reason is that any buck that has survived four or more hunting seasons has obviously developed all the hunter-evasion skills and is just as hard to get a shot at as one with a Boone & Crockett rack. Taking him in fair chase, then, is just as challenging and worthy of pride and admiration as collecting 200-point head.
The Almighty 'Book'
Dec 25, 2003
Many are the changes in deer hunting that I’ve seen in my 60 years of chasing whitetails.
The Christmas Gun – Is Everybody Ready?
Dec 18, 2003
If Santa Claus is slated to bring a youngster in your house a real firearm for Christmas, stop and give a little thought to what it means.
Deer 'Sign' Can Tell Hunters a Lot
Dec 11, 2003
I can hear somebody out there mumbling, “Why do I have to look for deer? I’ll just put up a feeder and let the deer look for me!”
Axis Deer, For Better or For Worse
Dec 4, 2003
We in West Kerr County undoubtedly enjoy the presence of the largest herd of free-ranging axis deer in North America – and maybe in the new world. They are not an unmixed blessing, however. Yes, they’re magnificent beasts, beautiful to the eye, and, yes, they provide perhaps the finest wild meat on this continent, but there is a downside.
To Corn, or Not to Corn
Nov 27, 2003
The topic of hunting deer over corn seems to have a lot in common with religion. Many conflicting doctrines exist among hunters and are devoutly held and stoutly defended. Every true believer is convinced that his is the one true gospel, and that all others should be denied entrance, if not to Heaven, then at least to the record book.
Rattling the Horns
Nov 20, 2003
No, I don’t mean the kind that makes you jump if you hear it in the grass around your feet; I mean the kind that makes big whitetail bucks run up to you and shake their racks at you.
Trophy Bucks — Wishful Thinking vs. Management
Nov 13, 2003
Everybody dreams of bigger-antlered bucks on his ranch or lease. We know there are three essential elements in the big-antler equation – age, nutrition, and genetics. All are important ... but they are not equally important.
How to Ruin a Perfectly Good Hunting Stand
Nov 6, 2003
Ruining a good deer stand is easy. I used to do it without even knowing it. You can do it in about three days, simply by using it too much.
John Introduces Himself to the WKC Readers 2003
Oct 30, 2003
Let’s begin at the beginning. My name is John Wootters and I’ll be the author of this outdoors column for as long as it suits Publisher Clint Schroeder. I’m a native Texan, now living on Johnson Creek outside Ingram. Some of you may have heard of me.