BILL L. OLSON, FOUNDER/PUBLISHER/EDITOR
Bill L. Olson is a third generation Texan and native Houstonian who has hunted and fished over much of the western half of the North American continent, from Mexico to Canada’s Northwest Territories. He is the Founder and Publisher/Editor of Texas Outdoors Journal.
In 1996, 1999, 2001-2023 Texas Outdoors Journal was named one of the top Texas’ outdoor publications in the annual competition amongst other Texas titled magazines held by the Texas Outdoor Writers Association. On May 3, 2025, at the 67th Annual Texas Outdoor Writers Association Conference in Rockport — Texas Outdoors Journal was once again recognized in TOWA’s Excellence In Craft competition.
In the highly competitive Outdoor Publication category Texas Outdoors Journal received two of the four awards presented including First Place (August 2024 issue) and Second Place (January 2024 issue). Combined with winnings from the previous 26 years brings TOJ’s total to an unprecedented 27 consecutive years of recognition. No other outdoor publication can equal this level of sustained excellence.(www.texasoutdoorsjournal.com)
He hosts the multi-award winning, world-wide weekly syndicated outdoors news/interview format, Texas Outdoor News radio show with his broadcast partner Harold Gunn. For the past 32 years the program has aired weekends on affiliates in Houston, Beaumont, Conroe/Huntsville/Bryan-College Station, Brady/Mason/Hill Country area, Corpus Christi, Victoria, San Antonio, Austin, Uvalde, Fredericksburg, Alpine/Trans-Pecos, West Texas, Lufkin/Nacogdoches/Center, Tyler/Longview,McAllen/Edinburg/Brownsville/Rio Grande Valley, Brady, Comanche/Brownwood, and Lake Charles LA.
The show can also be heard worldwide on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcast and iHeart radio plus archived on Texas Outdoor News’ website www.texasoutdoornews.com. At the May 3, 2025 T.O.W.A. Conference in Rockport, Texas Outdoor News radio was awarded First and Second Place for the two programs entered.
Olson is an avid big game hunter with numerous elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, antelope, bear, moose, turkey and various predators to his credit. In 1994 he successfully spotted, tracked and harvested a huge Shiras moose in Colorado that made the prestigious All Time Boone & Crocket Big Game Record Book. At the time of harvest it was the third largest moose ever taken in Colorado.
He is also an avid saltwater angler and licensed U. S. Coast Guard Master Captain with a 100 Ton and Towing Endorsements. Growing up near the Texas coast, he spent considerable time honing his skills wading and drift fishing the entire coast for “Texas’ Big Three” – speckled trout, redfish and flounder. He pursues big game fish in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, Pacific and Caribbean Oceans.
In March 2006 he joined the TV broadcast team on FOX Sports Outdoors – Southwest. Each week for 39 weeks per year Olson’s “On the Coast” updated viewers as to where the hottest action is occurring, both inshore and offshore, along Texas’ Gulf Coast. He completed his 14th season in 2018.
Olson is a staunch supporter of many conservation groups. From 1989-1995 he served on the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation National Board of Directors during that non-profit’s early formative years. Utilizing his extensive real estate and marketing background, Olson headed the Lands & Conservation Committee where he played an instrumental role in many of the habitat acquisitions during his term.
He and his late wife Ann founded and chaired the Houston RMEF Chapter (#48)1988-1992. This chapter has perennially been one of the top fundraisers in all of North America for RMEF. At its 2012 Silver Anniversary Big Game Banquet Houston became one of the first 10 RMEF Chapters, out of over 500 nationally, to surpass two million net dollars raised for elk and other wildlife. Houston surpassed three million net dollars raised in 2018.
In March 2009, at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s Silver Anniversary 25thAnnual Elk Camp and Expo in Fort Worth, Olson was once again elected to serve on the RMEF National Board. He completed his most recent term in February 2012. In 2025RMEF boasts over 235,000 members.
In March 1995, Olson received a State appointment to the Board for “Texas’ Operation Game Thief” from Texas Parks & Wildlife Executive Director, Andrew Sansom. During his six years term he was responsible for increasing public awareness of this anti-poaching organization by both consumptive and non-consumptive users of the outdoors.
Throughout each year Olson presents numerous seminars on a variety of hunting and fishing activities as well as conservation topics. He also serves as the MC at a number ofoutdoor shows and fundraising events plus does voice-over work for several companies.
Updated – 05/11/25
