ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Growing up in a rural household of modest means in Kaufman County, Texas, Greg Simons often dreamed of working in the hunting and wildlife management profession, but he never imagined he would someday own and co-own several successful businesses encompassing so many facets of hunting and conservation. In 1987, immediately after graduating from Texas A&M University with a Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences degree, Simons scraped together a small amount of start-up capital and launched Wildlife Systems, Inc. (WSI). WSI has grown into one of the largest and most recognized outfitting and wildlife-related businesses in the U.S., currently operating hunting programs on almost 1 million acres in Texas. He also co-owns Wildlife Consultants, LLC, which provides wildlife management services to more than 50 private landowners in several states. In 2018, he helped fledge Conservation Equity Partners (CEP), LLC. Currently Simons serves as a principal in CEP, which places large sums private equity into ecosystem service markets including environmental mitigation, forestry management, natural resource-based recreation, and other emerging ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) markets. 

Previously Simons owned businesses involved with booking agency services for international hunting companies and publishing a hunting magazine. As a freelance contributor, Simons has had over 75 articles published in popular magazines. His work in the wildlife-related field has stretched across 15 states and several foreign countries. 

Simons is past president of Texas Wildlife Association and Texas Wildlife Association Foundation, where he still serves on boards for both organizations. He is currently on the board for Dallas Safari Club, National Deer Association, and serves on appointed advisory committees for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as well as Texas A&M University’s Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Department. Simons is a past officer of Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, past board chair for San Angelo Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and served on the board for San Angelo Chamber of Commerce. He co-founded the West Texas Deer Study Group. He has also served on many other appointed boards and committees as well as being active in the public policy arena, where he works with elected officials and lobbyists helping to shape state and federal legislation and testifying when needed. 

Few people have crossed over between commercial hunting and natural resource conservation as broadly and successfully as Simons, while also actively donating time and money to help support causes important to him personally and professionally. While he is entering the twilight of his professional life, Simons’ appetite for civic engagement and professional achievement remains strong and his commitment to serving as an advocate for wild things and wild places is unwavering. The Hunting Business is offered as the capstone of Simons’ career.