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

Samantha Strable, the woman caught on video earlier this year harassing a baby wombat in Australia, faces multiple charges claiming that she lied about her residency to get hunting tags in Wyoming.

Woman Who Harassed Wombat In Australia Accused Of Wyoming Hunting Violations

A woman caught on video earlier this year harassing a baby wombat in Australia faces multiple charges claiming that she lied about her residency to get hunting tags in Wyoming.

Mark HeinzNovember 26, 2025

A grizzly bear attack on a group of about 20 on a school picnic in remote British Columbia, Canada, was a rare occurrence that has left bear experts puzzled. Four people, including three children, were seriously hurt.

Grizzly Mauling Of School Picknickers In Canada Baffles Experts

Bear experts are baffled over the grizzly bear attack on a group of about 20 on a school picnic in remote British Columbia, Canada. Four people, including three children, were hospitalized. Some are in critical condition.

Mark HeinzNovember 25, 2025

Hunter Ryan Chuckel is pictured with a bull elk he recently shot on public land in the southern Bighorn Mountains, left. He and his hunting companions claim that an adjacent rancher later tried to steal the elk’s head. Right, a helicopter ferries out elk meat and heads with antlers from an isolated area of public land in the southern Bighorn Mountains.

Wyoming Rancher Accused Of Trying To Steal Trophy Elk Head From Helicopter Hunters

Some hunters claim that after they helicoptered into an isolated public land area in the Bighorn Mountains and killed bull elk, an adjacent landowner tried to swipe one of their trophy elk heads.

Mark HeinzNovember 24, 2025

Researchers claim that wolves pulling on lines to steal bait from underwater crab traps is proof that they’re “using tools.” But some wolf experts dispute that idea.

Researchers Say Wolves Are Smart Enough To Use Tools

Wolves have been stealing bait from underwater crab traps in British Columbia which some researchers claim amounts to “tool use." Some Rocky Mountain wolf experts say it’s impressive behavior, but a stretch to call it that.

Mark HeinzNovember 23, 2025

Big game carcasses are butchered at Yellowstone Wild Game Processing near Bozeman, Montana.

Fewer Wyoming Wild Game Butchers Struggle To Keep Up With Hunter Demand

Butcher shops that will process hunters’ wild game meat are getting fewer and farther between in Wyoming. That means this time of year the ones left are doing a booming business — and struggling to keep up with hunter demand.

Mark HeinzNovember 22, 2025

Harriet Hageman says California has neglected its water infrastructure while demanding more Colorado River water from Wyoming. She says it and other Lower Basin states need to get in gear with that before going after more from Upper Basin states.

Hageman Says California Needs To Get In Gear, Stop Going After Wyoming’s Water

Harriet Hageman says California has neglected its water infrastructure while demanding more Colorado River water from Wyoming. She says California and other Lower Basin states need to get in gear with that before going after more from Upper Basin states.

Mark HeinzNovember 22, 2025

A growing program pairs generous hunters who donate their kills to veterans no longer able to hunt for themselves. Hunters like Biran Monahan, inset, say it's gratifying to show appreciation for veterans like Joe Rose, pictured, who's no longer physically able to hunt big game.

Hunters, Game Processors Partner For Veterans Who Can’t Hunt Big Game Anymore

A growing program has hunters and game processors partnering to get fresh game meat to military veterans who can't hunt big game anymore. The effort started in Missouri and wants to expand into states like Wyoming and Montana.

Mark HeinzNovember 21, 2025

Elk Hunter Chris Holden found these aircraft parts Wednesday afternoon near Laramie Peak in Converse County. It’s thought that they might have blown off a plane in mid-flight.

Wyoming Hunter Finds Aircraft Parts That Blew Off Cessna Jet In 2019

A Wyoming hunter found aircraft parts Wednesday scattered near Laramie Peak. The Converse County Sheriff's Office confirmed late Thursday the parts came from a Cessna Citation jet that took off in 2019 from Casper and landed safely in Scottsbluff.

Mark HeinzNovember 20, 2025

One of the wolves brought into Colorado from British Columbia in January and released in Colorado was killed in Wyoming on Friday. It had killed five sheep in north-central Wyoming, wildlife officials report.

Canada, Oregon And Now Washington Won't Send More Wolves To Colorado

Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program may have hit a wall. It probably can’t get any more wolves from Canada, Oregon has said no more, and now Washington state is also refusing to send more wolves for the program.

Mark HeinzNovember 19, 2025

Wildlife experts say a man was foolish and inconsiderate to press within a few yards of a group of juvenile wolves in Yellowstone National Park. On a video of the incident, onlookers remark that, "This could end very badly for that guy."

Dimwitted Man Taunts Yellowstone Wolves: 'This Could End Really Badly For That Guy'

Wildlife experts say a man was foolish and inconsiderate to press within a few yards of a group of juvenile wolves in Yellowstone. On a video of the incident, onlookers remark that, "This could end really badly for that guy."

Mark HeinzNovember 19, 2025

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service game warden inspects the carcass of Slingshot, a famous mule deer buck at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.

Slingshot, Colorado’s Famed Giant Mule Deer, Dies After Brutal Buck Fight

Slingshot, a massive and beloved mule deer at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal refuge near Denver, died Sunday after likely being gored by another buck during the rut. Wildlife fans are mourning the popular deer known for his gigantic antlers.

Mark HeinzNovember 18, 2025

Mitchell Wolfe found this bull elk Saturday morning near a roadside south of Rock Springs. The bull was utterly exhausted, after being tangled in a barbed wire fence for hours.

Wyoming Hunter Saves Elk Tangled In Barbed Wire From A Slow, Miserable Death

A Wyoming oil field worker said his heart sank Saturday when he saw an exhausted bull elk trapped in a barbed wire fence facing a slow, miserable death. He untangled the elk, praying it would survive. It did.

Mark HeinzNovember 17, 2025

Other Authors

Wyoming pilot Matt Guthmiller, right, and Mexican comedian Juanpa Zurita are featured in the Disney+ comedy series “The Worst Flight Around The World.”

Wyoming Pilot Who Owns A Fighter Jet Co-Stars In New Disney+ Comedy

Pilot Matt Guthmiller of Alpine, Wyoming, owns his own fighter jet and was the youngest person to fly solo around the world in 2014. His latest adventure is co-starring in a new Disney+ comedy series, “The Worst Flight Around The World."

Mark HeinzNovember 16, 2025

Fremont County resident Patrick Edwards loves angling for walleye. Fishing for them is challenging, and they’re excellent table fare, he said.

Future For Wyoming's Walleye Fishing Shaky As Major Hatchery Faces Risks

There’s a huge demand for walleye in Wyoming but the main supply of walleye, from a North Dakota hatchery is in doubt because of a zebra mussel threat. To get ahead of the problem, Wyoming's Game and Fish Department is looking to ramp up its walleye hatchery program here.

Mark HeinzNovember 15, 2025

This 1985 Chevy Silverado pickup recently sold for $27,000.

40 Years Later, Wyoming Still Loves Legendary Square Body Trucks

Chevrolet and GMC ended their legendary square body pickup line in 1987, and their square body Suburban and Blazer line a few years later. Now they’re hot again, and truck nuts around Wyoming want them.

Mark HeinzNovember 15, 2025

Bison from Utah’s Book Cliffs herd have been migrating across the state line into Colorado, where they’re not officially recognized as wildlife.

Bison Crossing From Utah Into Colorado Now Officially Protected Wildlife

Bison from Utah’s iconic Book Cliffs Herd have been venturing across the state line into Colorado, which recently decided to protect them as wildlife for the first time.

Mark HeinzNovember 14, 2025

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

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