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Outdoors Reporter

Mark Heinz

Mark Heinz covers the outdoors and wildlife for Cowboy State Daily.

He previously worked or freelanced for numerous newspapers and magazines across Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, covering all manner of news and feature stories. He has a strong background in topics related to wildlife, hunting, and wildlands conservation. He's written extensively since the 1990s about the controversies surrounding wolves, grizzly bears and mustangs.

He also enjoys people-centric stories with quirky edge of humor and has written several such pieces for Cowboy State Daily. 

Mark lives in Laramie with his wife, Kendy, and the youngest of their five children.

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Latest from Mark Heinz

The Colorado River feeds agriculture in southwest Colorado downriver from its headwaters in Wyoming.

Wyoming, Six Other Basin States Miss Key Colorado River Deadline

Wyoming and six other Colorado River basin states missed a key deadline to agree on water use, but talks continue. They now have until February before the federal government may impose its own plan.

Mark HeinzNovember 14, 2025

An oil rig on Bureau of Land Management land in Converse County, Wyoming.

Wyoming Senators, Energy Insiders Say Biden-Era Public Lands Rule Must Go

Wyoming’s U.S. Senators are stumping for the BLM’s Biden-era Public Lands Rule to be rescinded. Some Wyoming energy industry insiders say it’s the right thing to do.

Mark HeinzNovember 13, 2025

This young mule deer buck in Sheridan suffered a rare antler break at the base because of some massive force, such as a vehicle strike, or a fight with another deer.

Mule Deer Buck With Bizarre, Rare Antler Break Turns Heads In Sheridan

A young mule deer buck has been running around Sheridan with a bizarre antler, dangling from a broken base. A biologist says the buck will likely have a permanent deformity.

Mark HeinzNovember 12, 2025

Brayden Cummings of Rock Springs shot this bull elk in the Greater Little Mountain Area last year. Elk tags are difficult to draw for that area, but the game is plentiful.

Hunters Push To Protect Greater Little Mountain, Wyoming’s ‘Crown Jewel’

The future of more than 3 million acres of federal land in southwest Wyoming remains uncertain. But one section of it, the Greater Little Mountain area, should remain untouched, outdoors enthusiasts say.

Mark HeinzNovember 12, 2025

A pair of brawling mule deer bucks crashed through a plate glass window and ended up in the basement exercise room of a suburban Denver home Sunday. They were tranquilized, hauled out by firefighters and set free again.

Brawling Deer Smash Through Window Into Denver Basement Exercise Room

A pair of brawling mule deer bucks crashed through a plate glass window and ended up in the basement exercise room of a suburban Denver home Sunday. They were tranquilized, hauled out by firefighters and set free again.

Mark HeinzNovember 11, 2025

Elk hunting 9 16 22

Ranchers Push Sale Of Landowner Hunting Tags For 2026 Wyoming Session

Allowing Wyoming ranchers to sell their landowner hunting tags would bring them a much-needed financial boost, proponents say. Opponents argue that it would inflame tensions between landowners and hunters.

Mark HeinzNovember 10, 2025

Laramie gunsmith Nathan Heineke has revived the timeless craft of making fine hunting rifles that are practically works of art and sell for $24,000 or more. But they aren’t meant to hang on walls; they’re built for serious hunting.

Laramie Gunsmith's $24,000 Fine Rifles Are Works Of Art Made For Serious Hunting

Laramie gunsmith Nathan Heineke has revived the timeless craft of making fine hunting rifles that are practically works of art and sell for $24,000 or more. But they aren’t meant to hang on walls; they’re built for serious hunting.

Mark HeinzNovember 09, 2025

Cellphone cameras are better than ever, but if you want to match the quality of images that professional shutterbugs capture of Wyoming’s wildlife, you’ll have to spend tens of thousands of dollars.

For Wildlife Photography Do You Need An Expensive Camera Or Is An iPhone Good Enough?

Cellphone cameras can produce some spectacular photos. Aren't they good enough now or do you still need to spend thousands on professional cameras and lenses? We asked some of Wyoming's best wildlife photographers.

Mark HeinzNovember 09, 2025

Ryan Hansen got this mule deer buck during a family hunting trip in southwest Wyoming.

Wyoming Family Bags Five Huge Mule Deer In One Incredible Season

If there is one lesson to be taken away from a Uinta County family’s magnificent mule deer hunting season, it’s that putting in the work scouting an area ahead of time can pay off big time. All five members of the family bagged huge bucks.

Mark HeinzNovember 08, 2025

If wind and solar companies disrupt Wyoming’s wildlife, they should have to pay for it, Wyoming state Sen. Larry Hicks says. He’s sponsored a bill calling for energy companies to pay compensation.

Wind, Solar Projects Should Pay For Harming Wyoming Wildlife, Legislator Says

If wind and solar companies disrupt Wyoming’s wildlife, they should have to pay for it, Wyoming state Sen. Larry Hicks says. He’s sponsored a bill calling for energy companies to pay compensation.

Mark HeinzNovember 08, 2025

Grizzly autumn 11 8 25

Hunter Kills Two Grizzlies In Montana, Claims Self-Defense After Charging Him

A hunter in Montana shot and killed two grizzlies on Wednesday near Seeley Lake in a remote area of Missoula County, Montana. The man says he shot in self-defense after the bears, and another yearling, ran at him and his hunting partner.

Mark HeinzNovember 07, 2025

If Wyoming doesn’t start saving water now, it could get dragged into federal court battles over Colorado River water rights, state officials told lawmakers.

Wyoming May Force Water Cuts As Colorado River Crisis Deepens

With tensions building over the dwindling Colorado River water supply, Wyoming needs to make some tough decisions, state officials told lawmakers Thursday. That could include incentivizing farmers and ranchers to cut back irrigation along the Green River.

Mark HeinzNovember 07, 2025

Other Authors

Japan’s brown bears are essentially the same species as Wyoming’s grizzlies. This mother and cub were skinny because the late-summer pink salmon run they were waiting for was late.

Japan Calls Out The Military To Help Stop Surge In Bear Attacks

Japan for years has had a problem with bear attacks, but lately it’s gotten so bad the military was deployed to help protect people from getting mauled and killed.

Mark HeinzNovember 07, 2025

Cows belonging to Sheridan-area rancher Dan Reinke wear solar-powered electronic collars as part of a “virtual fencing” system. Such systems could replace physical livestock fences in some places.

Wyoming Cows Go High-Tech With Electronic Collars And ‘Virtual Fencing’

Cows across Wyoming might soon be corralled by electronic collars that vibrate to tell them where to go, or shock them when they stray. It’s called “virtual fencing.”

Mark HeinzNovember 05, 2025

A Florida county sheriff’s office has what they say is the nation's first search and recovery otter for finding bodies underwater. A Wyoming sheriff’s office is “not counting out” the possibility of using a recovery otter.

Florida Sheriff Trains Nation's First Search And Recovery Otter

A Florida county sheriff’s office has what they say is the nation's first search and recovery otter for finding bodies underwater. A Wyoming sheriff’s office is “not counting out” the possibility of using a recovery otter.

Mark HeinzNovember 05, 2025

Of the roadkill in Wyoming each year, about 85% are deer.

Time Change And Rut Season Make Wyoming Highways Deadly For Deer

The number of deer getting hit on America’s highways jumps significantly when daylight saving time ends and the sun sets sooner. In Wyoming, bucks being in the rut (mating season) makes matters even worse.

Mark HeinzNovember 04, 2025

Most of the firearms and ammunition tax revenue for wildlife conservation is coming from non-hunting sport shooters. Anti-hunters are trying to leverage that, but Wyoming shooters say it won’t work here.

Will Firearms, Ammo Taxes Become Wedge Between Hunters, Sports Shooters?

Most of the firearms and ammunition tax revenue for wildlife conservation is coming from non-hunting sports shooters. Anti-hunters are trying to leverage that, but Wyoming shooters say it won’t work here.

Mark HeinzNovember 03, 2025

Some states are now allowing hunters to use drones for locating animals, and others are considering it. That doesn't sit well with Buffalo's Mark Jones, a national director for Gun Owners of America. "Technology is ruining what hunting was meant to be," he said.

Looking For Wounded Deer With Drones Blurs Ethical Lines, Hunters Say

Some states are now allowing hunters to use drones for locating animals, and others are considering it. That doesn't sit well with Buffalo's Mark Jones, a national director for Gun Owners of America. "Technology is ruining what hunting was meant to be," he said.

Mark HeinzNovember 02, 2025

Fall is a great time to fish on the North Platte River near Casper, with cooler weather, clear water and thinner crowds.

Fall Not Just For Hunting: Wyoming Anglers Say It’s The Best Time For Fishing

Wyoming outdoors enthusiasts are obsessed with hunting during the fall, but anglers say it’s also the best time of year to go fishing.

Mark HeinzOctober 31, 2025

An Buffalo, Wyoming-area elk hunter claims that he and others are denied hunting opportunities by a landowner hoarding the herd by deliberately driving elk away from public land, like in this file photo of Wyoming elk on winter range.

Hunters Claim Wyoming Landowner Hoards Elk By Driving Them Away From Public Land

An Buffalo, Wyoming-area elk hunter claims that he and others are denied hunting opportunities by a landowner hoarding the herd by deliberately driving elk away from public land.

Mark HeinzOctober 31, 2025

A barred owl, inset, with a group of spotted owls.

Federal Plan To Massacre Nearly 500,000 Owls To Save Other Owls Is Back On Track

The U.S. Senate cleared the way Wednesday for wildlife agents to kill nearly 500,000 barred owls to save spotted owls in the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, barred owls could be moving in on native great gray owls in Wyoming.

Mark HeinzOctober 31, 2025

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