About Us - WTR History
Mike and Megan purchased WTR Outfitters in 2010 from Jack and Karen Hooker, who ran the business for over 40 years. Karen, a native of Ovando, was the organizer, backcountry cook, and worked behind the scenes to keep the business running smoothly. In Jack you’ll find one of the few remaining cowboys of the West who likely knows this country like no other human still alive. 
Born in Oregon in 1930, Jack headed off to Nevada with a horse and mule at the age of 13 where he worked as a cowboy on large cattle outfits, rodeoed for a number of years on saddle broncs, and gathered mustangs on horseback and by plane. After a stint in the military serving in Korea, Jack worked for Tom Edwards on the Whitetail Ranch as a packer and guide. In 1963 he bought his own outfit in Oregon, then returned a few years later and purchased the Whitetail Ranch in 1969 (later to become WTR Outfitters). Shortly thereafter he met and married Karen. Karen’s family owned a cattle ranch and outfitting business in Ovando. She left the area to pursue a nursing degree and, after working in Oregon, Washington, and Alaska, returned to her hometown. She and Jack worked side-by-side running the outfit for just over 40 years, inspiring generations to appreciate the beautiful country that is the Bob.
Jack and Karen now plan on running a horse training operation, to include day rides, out of their home in Ovando.
Prior to Jack and Karen’s tenure with the outfit, Tom Edwards owned and operated the Whitetail Ranch from 1939 to 1969, making WTR Outfitters the oldest outfitting business to operate in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. He blazed the trail for outfitting in the area and his memory is kept alive on Forest Service signs and local sites and trails.
Follow Us