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

Wyoming outfitter Dax McCarty (left) is pictured here with hunter Ernie Dosio, of California (center) and hunting guide AJ Henson. McCarty was good friends with Dosio, who was killed by an elephant in Africa.

Man Killed By Elephants Was Frequent Wyoming Hunter, Close Friends With Outfitter

A California man who was killed by elephants while on safari in Africa was a frequent hunter in Wyoming and close friends with a Douglas outfitter. Dax McCarty said the media portrayal of his friend is wrong. “He dang sure respected animals," he said.

Mark HeinzMay 02, 2026

Soda Lake, just north of Pinedale, was once a world-class brown and brook trout fishery. The fishing has tanked so badly there over the past few years, many locals don’t even bother going there anymore.

Pinedale’s Soda Lake, ‘Still Struggling,’ Anglers Should Lower Expectations

Soda Lake near Pinedale was once a premier trout fishery. The fishing there started to nosedive, and Wyoming Game and Fish says the lake is “still struggling” and angling will remain limited for the fifth consecutive year.

Mark HeinzMay 01, 2026

Golden eagles like to hunt for rabbits and other prey on land where the Wyoming State Shooting Complex is being built near Cody.

Gunfire From State’s $19.5M Shooting Range Near Cody Could Drive Eagles Away

Some are concerned that gunfire from Wyoming’s new $19.5 million shooting complex near Cody will drive eagles away from prime hunting and nesting grounds. “Eagles will avoid people and gunshots,” says the conservation director for the Teton Raptor Center.

Mark HeinzApril 30, 2026

In this photo looking north-northwest, Fontenelle can be see flowing into an extremely low Fontenelle Reservoir in Lincoln County.

Fontenelle Reservoir About Half-Full As Downstream States Demand More Water

Flaming Gorge Reservoir is being drawn down up to 1 million acre-feet to supply water to thirsty downstream states. That has some worried that Wyoming’s Fontenelle Reservoir, upstream from Flaming Gorge, is next.

Mark HeinzApril 28, 2026

ic George of Sheridan started with a basic bolt-action rifle receiver, bearing a firearm serial number, to build this custom rifle.

Court Rules 2nd Amendment Covers Firearms Parts, Good News for Those Who Build Guns

A federal court ruled that firearms parts without serial numbers could be protected under the Second Amendment. That’s good news for Wyomingites who build or customize their own guns, which one enthusiast likened to “Barbie dolls for men.”

Mark HeinzApril 28, 2026

Self-defense experts recommend people who carry firearms in Wyoming get training.

In Gun-Friendly Wyoming, When Is It OK To Shoot Somebody?

Wyoming law is about as friendly as it gets toward gun rights and self-defense, but even here, the rules for opening fire on somebody are complicated. The wrong decision can land a shooter in big legal trouble.

Mark HeinzApril 27, 2026

Brutal And Deadly ’22-’23 Wildlife Winter Inspires New Sportsman Group

The brutal, historic and deadly winter of 2022-2023 that killed tens of thousands of Wyoming deer, pronghorn and elk has inspired a new sportsman-driven conservation group. The group raised $250,000 at its first event.

Mark HeinzApril 26, 2026

Grizzly 970 is a massive male grizzly called “van Gogh” because he’s missing his right ear.

Inside Yellowstone: Grizzly 970 Or ‘Van Gogh' Is King Of West Yellowstone

Grizzly 970 is known as "Van Gogh" because he lost his right ear in a fight with another male. Wildlife photographers love him and other bears in his territory dread him. He's a fighter and known as the king of the west side of Yellowstone.

Mark HeinzApril 26, 2026

Great blue herons have set up a rookery, or collection of family nests, near Buffalo Bill Reservoir in Park County.

Great Blue Herons, Uncommon In Wyoming, Nesting Near Buffalo Bill Reservoir

Great blue herons are uncommon in Wyoming, but a growing number of them have set up a nesting area near Buffalo Bill Reservoir. “They’re really going to town” building new nests to lay eggs, says Cody wildlife photographer Phil Hilson.

Mark HeinzApril 25, 2026

In Japan, civilians are being trained to respond to a growing number of bear attacks by shooting darts at a man in a bear suit.

In Japan, People Shoot Darts At Guy In A Bear Suit To Train For Attacks

There have been so many bear attacks in Japan, civilians are being trained to deal with them by shooting darts at a guy in a bear suit. There have been 230 bear attacks in 2025, 13 of them fatal. The government has proposed killing 10,000 bears.

Mark HeinzApril 25, 2026

Wyoming Faces Competition From Utah, Other States, To Recruit Firearms Companies

As more firearms companies set up shop in Second Amendment-friendly states, Wyoming faces challenges, such as limited housing, in competing with states like Utah. Those gun laws are a major reason firearms companies relocate.

Mark HeinzApril 25, 2026

Wildlife Officials Say Colorado Wolves Aren't Wandering Because Pups Expected Soon

Colorado’s wolves are wandering less as of late; some say it could be because the most far-ranging wolves have left the state. But wildlife officials think it’s because packs are hunkering down close to dens, waiting for a new crop of pups this spring.

Mark HeinzApril 24, 2026

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Cody resident Aubrey Slackey saw a grizzly tearing into some hay bales near Yellowstone and started shooting video.

Wyoming Places: It's Not Every Day You See A Grizzly Fall Off Some Hay Bales

When Cody resident Aubrey Slackey saw a grizzly on top of some hay bales near Yellowstone, he started shooting video. Then the grizzly fell off. “He looked like he was embarrassed. He gave me a look like, ‘You didn’t just see me do that,’” he said.

Mark HeinzApril 24, 2026

Grizzly 610 is pictured here with her most recent litter of three cubs, on May 6, 2023.

Famous Grizzy 610 A No-Show So Far This Year, Could Mean She Has Cubs

Grizzly 610, one of Grand Teton National Park's most famous bears, has yet to emerge this year. But her fans aren’t worried. They say it probably means she has a new cub, or cubs. In which case, she’ll show up next month with her little ones in tow.

Mark HeinzApril 23, 2026

Wyoming state Rep. Karlee Provenza and a Montana legislator posted video corner-crossing at the Carbon County spot that started a yearslong legal war. Corner-crossing was affirmed legal in Wyoming last year, but it’s illegal in Montana.

To Prove Corner-Crossing Is Legit, Wyoming, Montana Lawmakers Cross Corners

Wyoming state Rep. Karlee Provenza and a Montana legislator posted video of themselves corner-crossing at the Carbon County spot that started a yearslong legal war. She said she took the video to demonstrate the legality of corner-crossing in Wyoming.

Mark HeinzApril 23, 2026

Bruno, one of Wyoming’s most popular grizzlies, had his face ripped open last fall, seen at left. After being captured and treated for his wounds, he showed up fully healed this spring, right.

Popular Grizzly Bruno Emerges With His Gnarly, Ripped-Open Face Healed

Bruno, one of Wyoming’s most popular grizzlies, had his face ripped open last fall in what many bear observers believe was a fight with another male grizzly. After being captured and treated for his wounds, he showed up fully healed this spring.

Mark HeinzApril 22, 2026

Wood bison are indigenous to Alaksa, where efforts are underway to restore their numbers.

Alaska Moves To Restore Wood Bison, Even Bigger Cousins Of Wyoming’s Plains Bison

Yellowstone’s bison are doing well, but their bigger cousins — wood bison — are struggling to recover in Alaska after being nearly killed off. As massive as Wyoming’s plains bison are, wood bison are about 15% larger.

Mark HeinzApril 21, 2026

A wolf from Yellowstone National Park’s Wapiti pack tests its luck with a bison on Sunday.

Yellowstone Visitors Witness Harsh Reality Of Nature As Wolves Attack Bison

Yellowstone visitors had a front-row seat to the stark reality of the contest between predator and prey early Sunday, when nine members of the Wapiti wolf pack went after a herd of bison. Stunningly, the bison survived, although some were injured.

Mark HeinzApril 20, 2026

Kansas residwent Tom Rives, who’s hunted all over the West, says he wants his final “retirement" elk hunt to be in Wyoming. Asked why Wyoming, “It’s still one of the great Western states” thats "untouched and unspoiled,” he said.

Kansas Man Wants To Bag One Last Elk Hunt In Wyoming Before Retiring From Sport

A Kansas man who’s hunted all over the West says he wants his final “retirement" elk hunt to be in Wyoming. “It’s still one of the great Western states that's untouched and unspoiled,” he said.

Mark HeinzApril 18, 2026

Fly-fishing guide Dustin White, left, and Ugly Bug Fly Shop owner Blake Jackson show off White’s Orvis Fly Fishing Guide of the Year Award.

Casper Angler Named World’s Best Fly-Fishing Guide By Orvis

Dustin White, a guide for the Ugly Bug Fly Shop in Casper, was named the Orvis Fly Fishing Guide of the Year, regarded in the industry as recognition of the best guide in the fly-fishing world. He said making people happy through his job is better than any award.

Mark HeinzApril 17, 2026

A female grizzly that was captured and moved from the Glacier National Park are to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem emerged with two cubs this month. Wildlife managers say it’s important step toward genetic exchange between northern Yellowstone bear populations.

Grizzly Transplanted To Yellowstone Has Cubs, Raising Hopes For Genetic Exchange

A female grizzly transplanted from near Glacier National Park to Yellowstone has emerged with two cubs, initiating genetic exchange between bear populations. Some say it’s not enough to impact the debate over delisting grizzlies from federal protection.

Mark HeinzApril 17, 2026