Home County of Famous Frontiersman J. Wright Mooar (1967)

(Aug. 10, 1851-May 1, 1940) Champion hunter of buffalo--largest game animal in North America. Born in Vermont; came west at 19. Began hunting in 1870 to supply hides for market. In partnership with his brother, John W. Mooar, in 1873 established first buffalo hunting camp in the Texas Panhandle. On Oct. 7, 1876, at his first hunting camp in Scurry County, killed a rare albino buffalo--one of two known to have been killed in Texas. The hide of that albino, afterward shown in 1904 St. Louis Fair and many other occasions, is now preserved here in Scurry County by Mooar's descendants. Hunted regularly until 1879; in 1881 helped furnish game and hay to feed construction men and animals building Texas & Pacific Railroad in West Texas. During his career, he shot about 22,000 buffalo--a record probably unsurpassed. His ability to hit a vital spot at a distance of 1,000 feet or farther won the respect of such Indians as Comanche Chief Quanah Parker, who became his friend in later life. Began ranching with his brother in 1877. Also had a business in Colorado City, 1881-1905. Highly esteemed. Site of killing of white buffalo (10 mi. NW of here) is near the Old Mooar Ranch headquarters, where his hand-hug water well is now surrounded by oil wells. (1967)

Home County of Famous Frontiersman J. Wright Mooar is a historical marker in Snyder, Scurry County, dedicated in 1967. It is one of 60 historical markers documented in Scurry County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 63 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.7170, -100.9182 near Snyder. The nearest cataloged historic site is First State Bank Building (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Scurry County's Canyon Reef Oil Field, County's First Law Men, and Company G.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5415002519. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.