It is with much sadness that we report the passing of Martin F. “Bubba” Wood on January 5 at the age of 83. The skeet champion, conservationist, wingshooter, and wildlife art curator was a Texas legend whose influence ranged far beyond the state. He was the leader of the renowned Cosmic Cowboys 5-man skeet team in the 1970s. One of his fellow Cosmic Cowboys, Robert Paxton, shared some thoughts on his friend:
Prolific hunter, fisherman, sporting arts dealer, world champion skeet shooter, and conservationist, Bubba Wood was an all-around sportsman.
In 1965, a few years after he began shooting competitive skeet, he had a dream season. He won the HOA at every shoot he attended, except the World Shoot where he was one target behind the HOA Champion. He was HOA High Average Leader that year.
Bubba was a six-time All-American (five Open 1st teams and Co-Captain in 1966). He won three Open World titles – 28-gauge in 1975 and the 12-gauge and Champ of Champs titles in 1976. He was inducted into the NSSA Hall of Fame in 1992.
He served our sport in many ways, including President of TSSA, President of Dallas Gun Club and NSSA Executive Committeeman.
Many would say that one of his greatest accomplishments in skeet was being the leader and driving force of the Cosmic Cowboys 5-man team, recognized by most as the greatest 5-man team in the history of skeet. Many of their world records that they set in the 1970s still hold today.
Others would argue that his work in wildlife conservation should be his legacy. Over the years, Bubba was critical to the success of many nonprofit conservation organizations, and in 2021 was the recipient of the T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award given by the Park Cities Quail Coalition.”
According to the Park Cities Quail Coalition, without Bubba’s early involvement in the organization, it would not exist as it is known today. Bubba involved his friend T. Boone Pickens with the group early on, and both men helped it grow into a successful organization that has contributed millions to conservation.
Bubba was also known as an authority on sporting art, having founded and owned the Collectors Covey wildlife and sporting art gallery for 42 years, giving back $12 million to Texas conservation efforts.
As a prominent conservationist, Bubba Wood was profiled in The Land Report magazine in 2021 in an article titled “A Man For All Seasons.” You can read it here. Park Cities Quail Coalition also created an extraordinary tribute video, which you can view here, when he was awarded the T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award in 2021.
NSSA extends its sympathies to Bubba’s many friends and family.
