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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

A new study from a group that wants grizzlies reintroduced to California claims the state could handle nearly 1,200 bears. Wildlife officials say that’s unrealistic.

Group Wants Nearly 1,200 Grizzlies In California, But Could It Actually Happen?

A new study from a group that wants grizzlies reintroduced to California claims the state could handle nearly 1,200 bears. Wildlife officials say that’s unrealistic.

Mark HeinzApril 19, 2025

The “Path of the Pronghorn,” one of Wyoming’s most-used antelope travel routes, could be designated as an official migration corridor, possibly restricting energy development.

Protecting Wyoming Pronghorn A Balancing Act Of Conservation, Energy Development

The “Path of the Pronghorn,” one of Wyoming’s most-used antelope travel routes, could be designated as an official migration corridor, possibly restricting energy development.

Mark HeinzApril 19, 2025

This mamma black bear was sluggish as she emerged from her hibernation den in Yellowstone National Park on Monday with at least one, and possibly two tiny cubs.

Momma Black Bear, Tiny Cub Caught Crawling Out Of Their Yellowstone Den

Female bears with cubs usually don’t emerge from hibernation until May. But a lucky photographer got photos when one momma black bear was "like a sloth" venturing out of the den early with at least one tiny cub Monday in Yellowstone National Park.

Mark HeinzApril 18, 2025

Limpy, aka Tripod or Chester, is a coyote that lives in the Lamar area of Yellowstone National Park. He tries to sucker tourists out of snacks by looking pathetic along the roadside.

Limpy, Yellowstone’s Infamous Coyote Con Artist, Is At It Again

Limpy the coyote is Yellowstone National Park’s greatest con artist. He hangs out along the roadside, greatly exaggerating a leg injury, hoping to get snacks from soft-hearted tourists.

Mark HeinzApril 17, 2025

Josh Coursey

Prominent Wyoming Mule Deer Advocate Picked To Serve In Trump Administration

Prominent Wyoming wildlife conservationist Josh Coursey has been tapped to serve in President Donald Trump’s administration in a role he can't yet disclose. He joins a number of people with Wyoming ties picked by the administration.

Mark HeinzApril 17, 2025

In the first reported major run-in between a grizzly and a human this year, a man hunting shed antlers in north-central Montana shot and killed a female grizzly bear that he claimed charged him.

Montana Hunter Kills Charging Grizzly In Year’s First Reported Human-Bear Clash

In the first reported major run-in between a grizzly and a human this year, a man hunting shed antlers in north-central Montana shot and killed a female grizzly bear that he says charged him.

Mark HeinzApril 15, 2025

Wolves have been switching from hunting elk to hunting bison in Yellowstone National Park. Hunting bison requires larger wolf packs, as seen in this file photo.

Famous Yellowstone Wolf Pack Hunting Calf Nearly Clobbered By Adult Bison

Yellowstone National Park’s Junction Butte wolf pack failed in a recent attempt to bring down a yearling bison calf. The calf and its mother ran to a group of adult bison, which in turn tried to clobber the wolves.

Mark HeinzApril 15, 2025

There seems to be some confusion over whether it’s legal to won a kangaroo in Wyoming. It is — but you’ll need a special permit, and as mostly outside pets, kangaroos probably couldn’t handle the Wyoming cold. Here, a kangaroo shivers in a rare dusting of snow in Australian winter.

It’s Legal To Own Kangaroos In Wyoming, But They’d Probably Freeze To Death

There seems to be some confusion over whether it’s legal to own a kangaroo in Wyoming. It is — but you’ll need a special permit, and as mostly outside pets, kangaroos probably couldn’t handle the Wyoming cold.

Mark HeinzApril 14, 2025

One of five wolves reintroduced to northern Colorado in December 2023.

Agencies Tight-Lipped About Second Colorado Wolf Killed In Wyoming

A Wyoming law that protects the identities of wolf hunters seems to be behind an information blackout about the second Colorado wolf killed in Wyoming. That has people in both states frustrated.

Mark HeinzApril 14, 2025

It’s widely assumed that an adult mountain lion kills a deer a week, but some seasoned mountain lion hunters question that. They say the big cats are blamed for killing more deer than they actually do.

Mountain Lions Blamed For Killing More Deer Than They Actually Do, Hunters Say

It’s widely assumed that an adult mountain lion kills a deer a week, but some seasoned mountain lion hunters question that. They say the big cats are blamed for killing more deer than they actually do.

Mark HeinzApril 13, 2025

A series of screenshots from a video by Selah and Bruce Tenney shows a bobcat snatching a hen wild turkey out of mid-air in rural Oregon. The incredible scene won the 2025 Trailcampro video of the year award.

Momma Bobcat Makes Incredible Leap To Snag Turkey Out Of The Air

A trail camera captured a rare wildlife moment in Oregon, where a bobcat was recorded making an incredible leap to snag a wild turkey, mid-air. The video won the Trail Cam Pro 2025 video of the year award.

Mark HeinzApril 12, 2025

A 5-month-old dire wolf created by Colossal Biosciences.

Dire Wolves Would Destroy Everything If Reintroduced In Wyoming, Biologists Say

A bioscience company’s announcement this week that it’s brought back long-extinct dire wolves raised a lot of eyebrows. But they would destroy everything if a breeding population of them were reintroduced in Wyoming, biologists say.

Mark HeinzApril 12, 2025

Other Authors

One of five wolves reintroduced to northern Colorado in December 2023.

Second Colorado Wolf Reintroduced From Canada Dies In Wyoming

A second wolf that was transplanted from British Columbia, Canada, to Colorado crossed the state line into Wyoming and died here Wednesday, Colorado wildlife officials confirmed Friday.

Mark HeinzApril 12, 2025

A pair of Wyoming grizzlies in the Yellowstone Ecosystem.

52-Year-Old Federally-Led Grizzly Study Team May Be On Chopping Block

A federally-led grizzly bear study team that goes back to 1973 could soon be on the chopping block because of ongoing federal cuts. It’s unclear what that might mean for the future of Wyoming’s grizzlies.

Mark HeinzApril 11, 2025

Department of Homeland Security Secretary and former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is taking heat this week after pointing a rifle at the head of an ICE agent during a photo op. Wyoming firearms exports say that breaks a major gun safety rule.

Noem’s Rifle Pointing At Agent’s Face Broke Major Safety Rule, Wyoming Experts Say

Department of Homeland Security Secretary and former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is taking heat this week after pointing a rifle at the head of an ICE agent during a photo op. Wyoming firearms experts say that breaks a major gun safety rule.

Mark HeinzApril 11, 2025

A crowd of Laramie residents turned out Wednesday evening to tell their school board that they don’t want concealed firearms allowed in local schools. The board said there’s no choice, because the Legislature did away with gun-free zones in Wyoming.

Laramie Residents Balk At Guns In Schools, School Board Says There’s No Choice

A crowd of Laramie residents turned out Wednesday evening to tell their school board that they don’t want concealed firearms allowed in local schools. The board said there’s no choice, because the Legislature did away with gun-free zones in Wyoming.

Mark HeinzApril 10, 2025

In 1962, the Air Force ejected a bear named Yogi from a jet bomber going 870 mph at an altitude of 35,000 feet. In hindsight, a retired USAF colonel questions how anyone thought that was a good idea.

USAF Tested Its B-58 Jet Bomber By Ejecting A Bear Named Yogi At 35,000 Feet

In 1962, the Air Force ejected a bear named Yogi from a jet bomber going 870 mph at an altitude of 35,000 feet. In hindsight, a retired USAF colonel questions how anyone thought that was a good idea.

Mark HeinzApril 08, 2025

Blacktail Ponds in Yellowstone can be a bison death trap in the winter as they fall in and can't get out.

Yellowstone’s Blacktail Pond Is A Bison Death Trap, But A Buffet For Bears

The Blacktail Pond area in Yellowstone National Park can be a death trap for bison if they fall through ice or get trapped in muddy water and drown. But for the area's bears, it's a buffet.

Mark HeinzApril 07, 2025

Think you can survive a charging grizzly just because you have bear spray with you? Wyoming Game and Fish’s “Robobear” is an eye-opener, as Cowboy State Daily reporters Clair McFarland and Mark Heinz recently learned.

Think You Can Survive A Charging Grizzly? Take On Wyoming’s ‘Robobear’

Think you can survive a charging grizzly just because you have bear spray with you? Wyoming Game and Fish’s “Robobear” is an eye-opener, as Cowboy State Daily reporters Clair McFarland and Mark Heinz recently learned.

Mark Heinz & Clair McFarlandApril 05, 2025

A pronghorn struggles to move along a section of woven-wire fencing in deep snow in the Green River Basin of western Wyoming. Pronghorn in the Red Desert faced similar obstacles during their escape movements in the winter of 2022-23, contributing to a mass die-off.

During Brutal Winter Die-Off, Antelope Got Lost, Trapped By Fences And Roads

Many of the antelope that froze or starved during the brutal winter of 2022-2023 got lost and died after they hit fences they couldn’t cross, according to a new University of Wyoming-led study.

Mark HeinzApril 04, 2025

A grizzly tries to get intop this trash can.

Grizzly Killed A Man In Yellowstone In 1916, So They Blew It Up With Dynamite

The first documented fatal grizzly attack in Yellowstone National Park was in 1916 by a bear dubbed Old Two Toes. Federal workers responded by blowing the grizzly into oblivion using a garbage barrel booby-trapped with dynamite.

Mark HeinzApril 04, 2025

Laramie firefighter Dylan Schilt was left temporarily paralyzed when a massive stone chimney chase collapsed on him during a house fire call on Feb. 28. He’s been undergoing physical therapy and is determined to make a full recovery.

Laramie Firefighter Crushed In House Fire Determined To Make A Full Recovery

Laramie firefighter Dylan Schilt was left temporarily paralyzed when a massive stone chimney chase collapsed on him and a colleague on Feb. 28. He said Thursday he plans to make a full recovery.

Mark HeinzApril 03, 2025

Adobe town, south of Rock Springs along rough gravel and dirt roads, is one of Wyoming’s most isolated locations.

Sweetwater County Turns To Hageman For Help On BLM Rock Springs Plan

It remains uncertain how the Bureau of Land Management’s plan for 3.6 million acres in south-central Wyoming will pan out. But Sweetwater County officials hope it stays to their liking.

Mark HeinzApril 02, 2025

With the repeal of Wyoming’s gun-free zones, concealed carrying of firearms will be allowed in University of Wyoming buildings starting July 1. It’s already to legal to carry outside on campus grounds.

UW To End Gun-Free Zones July 1 And Allow Concealed Guns Inside Buildings

With the repeal of Wyoming’s gun-free zones, concealed carrying of firearms will be allowed in University of Wyoming buildings starting July 1. It’s already legal to carry outside on campus grounds.

Mark HeinzApril 02, 2025

The city of Rock Springs has contracted with the Wyoming-based Goat-Green LLC company to bring in 300 goats. The goats are gobbling their way through brush and grass that’s clogging up drainages near the city center.

Rock Springs Hires Goat Army To Munch Its Way Through Clogged Canals

Rock Springs has weeds, brush and grass clogging vital drainage canals through the heart of town. An army of 300 goats has been let loose to gobble their way through.

Mark HeinzApril 01, 2025

There’s a dispute over exactly where the boundary line is between land owned by the South Dakota ranchers Heather and Charles Maude and national grassland controlled by the Forest Service. The couple was served federal indictments alleging theft of government property.

Federal Fence Line Fight With Ranchers Is ‘Odd,’ Wyoming Attorney Says

An ongoing fence line fight between a South Dakota ranch family and the U.S. Forest Service has grabbed national attention. It also seems “odd,” says a Wyoming attorney who has handled land disputes.

Mark HeinzMarch 31, 2025

Candida Haasch runs the Warriors of the Rainbow Horse Sanctuary in Missouri and would love to adopt curly-haired mustangs from Wyoming.

Missouri Trainer Wants All The Wyoming Curly-Haired Mustangs She Can Get

A Missouri horse trainer says she’ll take all the curly-haired Wyoming mustangs she can get. She says they’d be perfect for a prisoner-rehabilitation program similar to what the Wyoming Honor Farm has.

Mark HeinzMarch 30, 2025

Sandhill cranes take flight at Wyoming’s Table Mountain wildlife habitat management area.

Thousands Of Cranes Pour Into Wyoming For Spring Migration, Even A Few Whoopers

Sandhill cranes are pouring into Wyoming by the thousands during spring migration. A few rare whooping cranes are showing up too. Many cranes come here to nest and raise their young.

Mark HeinzMarch 29, 2025

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Even In Wyoming, Experts Say Shooting At Someone Stealing Your Stuff Not A Good Idea

It’s best to know what the law says about using a gun to defend yourself, your home and possessions in Wyoming before opening fire, experts say. A Casper man may learn that after unloading at his own truck while a guy was stealing it.

Mark HeinzMarch 29, 2025

Heather and Charles Maude, owners of Maude Hog & Cattle near Caputa, South Dakota, were each served with separate federal indictments over a fence line dispute with the U.S. Forest Service.

Wyoming Ranchers Ask Trump For Help In Family's Fence Line Fight With Feds

Wyoming ranchers have asked President Donald Trump to intervene in their daughter and son-in-law’s property dispute with the U.S. Forest Service in South Dakota.

Mark HeinzMarch 28, 2025

Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis is a backing a bill to lift 90-year-old restrictions on short-barreled rifles and shotguns. A Wyoming firearms law expert agrees, calling the restrictions “silly.”

Lummis Wants End To ‘Silly’ Restrictions On Short-Barreled Rifles, Shotguns

Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis is a backing a bill to lift 90-year-old restrictions on short-barreled rifles and shotguns. A Wyoming firearms law expert agrees, calling the restrictions “silly.”

Mark HeinzMarch 28, 2025

A pack of gray wolves in Yellowstone National Park.

If Feds Delist Wolves Everywhere, Will Colorado’s Reintroduction Program Crash?

A push is underway to get wolves delisted from federal protection across the Lower 48, but it remains unclear how that might affect wolf management policies in Wyoming and Colorado.

Mark HeinzMarch 28, 2025

A North Carolina man uses a bear suit black bears off his lawn. Some Wyomingites said trying that with a grizzly would be insane. They could maul you, or worse, try to get frisky.

Man In Bear Suit Scares Off Black Bear; He’s Lucky It Wasn’t A Wyoming Grizzly

A North Carolina man uses a bear suit to scare black bears off his lawn. Some Wyomingites said trying that with a grizzly would be insane. They could maul you, or worse, try to get frisky.

Mark HeinzMarch 27, 2025

Wyoming gun rights advocates are blasting a Wednesday U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding Biden-era “ghost gun” rules. The regs require serial numbers and background checks for self-made firearms.

Wyoming Gun Owners Blast Supreme Court For Upholding Biden-Era ‘Ghost Gun’ Rules

Wyoming gun rights advocates are blasting a Wednesday U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding Biden-era “ghost gun” rules. The regs require serial numbers and background checks for self-made firearms.

Mark HeinzMarch 26, 2025

Yellowstone’s Bison have merged into a “single breeding population,” according to a new study. It might be necessary to establish new herds in places like Wyoming’s Red Desert to prevent inbreeding.

New Herd In Wyoming’s Red Desert Could Save Yellowstone Bison From Inbreeding

Yellowstone’s bison have merged into a “single breeding population,” according to a new study. Because of that, it might be necessary at some point to establish new herds in places like Wyoming’s Red Desert to prevent inbreeding.

Mark HeinzMarch 26, 2025

Hope is running high in Sweetwater County that millions of acres of federal land won’t be locked up as Harriet Hageman pushes to revise Bureau of Land Management plans across the West, including Wyoming's vast Red Desert.

Rock Springs Land Use Plan On Hold As Congress Revises BLM Western Priorities

Hope is running high in southwest Wyoming that millions of acres of federal land won’t be locked up as Harriet Hageman pushes Congress to revise Bureau of Land Management plans across the West.

Mark HeinzMarch 24, 2025

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If Colorado Wolves Keep Crossing Into Wyoming, They Might Not Last Long

A transplanted wolf showing up in Wyoming wasn’t unexpected, neither was it being killed for preying on livestock. With Wyoming’s shoot-on-sight policy for wolves in most of the state, that’s not likely to change.

Mark HeinzMarch 21, 2025

An online rumor that children’s Benadryl can save people from rattlesnake bites has gone viral around Wyoming. But it’s false, and a medical expert says taking it after a rattler bites could get you killed.

Taking Benadryl For Rattlesnake Bites Can Get You Killed, Medical Expert Says

An online rumor that children’s Benadryl can save people from rattlesnake bites has gone viral around Wyoming. But it’s false, and a medical expert says taking it after a rattler bites could get you killed.

Mark HeinzMarch 21, 2025

A former Wyoming resident who had moved to Alabama was busted for illegally killing a deer 26 years after the fact, and after dodging a bench warrant for 24 years.

Former Wyoming Resident Busted For Illegal Deer Killing 26 Years Later

A former Wyoming resident who had moved to Alabama was busted for illegally killing a deer 26 years after the fact, and after dodging a bench warrant for 24 years.

Mark HeinzMarch 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.

Transplanted Colorado Wolf Killed In Wyoming Had Been Attacking Sheep

A wolf from Colorado that killed five sheep in north-central Wyoming was killed by USDA Wildlife Services on Saturday. It was one of the wolves brought into Colorado from British Columbia and released there as part of that state's reintroduction program.

Mark HeinzMarch 20, 2025

Environmental groups are pushing to block the nomination of former Wyoming Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik to head the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. But a former FWS warden says he’s the right pick.

Environmentalists Push To Block Brian Nesvik As Pick To Lead Fish & Wildlife

Environmental groups are pushing to block the nomination of former Wyoming Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik to head the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. But a former FWS warden says he’s the right pick.

Mark HeinzMarch 19, 2025

A federal court will decide whether a herd of rare curly-haired mustangs will be rounded up and removed from southwest Wyoming.

Federal Court To Decide Fate Of Wyoming’s Rare Curly-Haired Wild Mustangs

A panel of three federal judges in 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver is considering whether mustangs, including rare curly-haired horses, will be rounded up and removed from southwest Wyoming.

Mark HeinzMarch 19, 2025

Many hope that Spirit, the last cub of Grizzly 399, is still alive and will emerge from hibernation this spring.

Watch Is On For 399’s Cub Spirit: If He Survived, Will Anyone Recognize Him?

Grief over the death of Wyoming’s Grizzly 399 was tempered by hope that her cub, Spirit, might survive on his own. But even if he did, it might be impossible to distinguish Spirit from any other 2-year-old grizzly.

Mark HeinzMarch 18, 2025

A federal appeals court Tuesday, March 18, 2025, ruled in favor of four hunters who “corner-crossed” to access public land next to a Wyoming ranch in 2021. The ruling could have broad implications for public lands use.

Federal Court Sides With Hunters In Wyoming Corner-Crossing Case

A federal appeals court Tuesday ruled in favor of four hunters who “corner-crossed” to access public land next to a Wyoming ranch in 2021. The ruling could have broad implications for public lands use.

Mark HeinzMarch 18, 2025

University of Wyoming sign 5 15 23

UW Breaks Ties With National Ph.D. Group After Trump’s DEI Scrutiny

University of Wyoming has cut ties with a nonprofit allegedly trying to “diversify corporate America.” The move is a response to President Trump’s push for academia to pull away from DEI.

Mark HeinzMarch 17, 2025

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Wyoming Baby Wombat Grabber Fires Back At Australia

A Wyoming-based social media influencer who set off international outrage after reportedly grabbing a baby wombat in Australia is firing back, stating that Australia’s government slaughters wombats by the thousands.

Mark HeinzMarch 17, 2025

Close Up Of An Adult Female, An Adult Male, Nymph And Larva Tick. Ticks Cause An Acute Inflammatory Disease Characterized By Skin Changes, Joint Inflammation, And Flu-Like Symptoms Called Lyme Disease.

Tick Bite Victims Say Resulting Diseases Caused Them Years Of Misery

As tick season nears, victims told Cowboy State Daily about years of suffering, and the frustration of going to one doctor after another – with baffling symptoms – and still not getting a proper diagnosis.

Mark HeinzMarch 16, 2025

Wyoming’s oldest coal-burning steam locomotive, Ol’ Sadie

Cheyenne Botanic Garden Founder Says Cheyenne ‘Stealing’ Famous Locomotive

Shane Smith, the founder of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, says plans to move Wyoming's oldest coal steam locomotive to a downtown location would amount to “stealing” it from the facility, as well as from all the people who donated time and money to put Ol’ Sadie there.

Mark HeinzMarch 16, 2025

A pack of wolves in Yellowstone National Park.

Why Wolves In Wyoming Aren’t Attacking And Killing People Like They Are In India

While a district in northern India is reeling from wolf attacks that have killed at least 10 people, many of them children, wildlife biologists say the chances of humans being attacked by wolves in Wyoming remain virtually zero.

Mark HeinzMarch 15, 2025

Wildlife photographer Trent Sizemore captured video of a grizzly walking past a trail camera on March 13, 2025

Well-Known Bear Likely First Grizzly Caught On Video This Year, Near West Yellowstone 

Photographers believe the grizzly seen ambling past a trail camera on Thursday night in Yellowstone is the same huge male that is often one of the first bears to make an appearance each spring. 

Mark HeinzMarch 14, 2025

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Gun Advocates Praise Study Showing Citizens Stop More Mass Shooters Than Police

Wyoming gun rights advocate Mark Jones told Cowboy State Daily that a new study showing armed citizens stopped more active shootings than police proved Wyoming was right to repeal gun-free zones.

Mark HeinzMarch 14, 2025

Screenshot of Samantha Strable holding a baby wombat in Australia

Australian Prime Minister Blasts Wyoming Outdoors Influencer For Grabbing Baby Wombat 

Australians, including the prime minister, are livid at a Wyoming-based social media influencer, after a video surfaced of her grabbing a baby wombat. Samantha Strable, who has lived in Pinedale, could lose her visa as a result.

Mark HeinzMarch 14, 2025

Kelsey Mitchell, a biologist with the Teton County Weed & Pest District, collects ticks for research. Scientists are looking for volunteers to do the same.

As Ticks Begin To Emerge in Wyoming, Entomologists On Lookout For Two New Species

Wyoming entomologists say ticks are beginning to come out and are warning about two new species that are particularly awful. One carries Lyme disease and the other likes to “chase you down.”

Mark HeinzMarch 12, 2025

A bald eagle riding a dead skunk like a snowboard isn’t something you see everyday, but a woman in Maine got it on video. It also doesn’t surprise raptor experts, because eagles really like to cling to their food.

Bald Eagle Won’t Let Go Of Its Dinner, Turns Roadkill Skunk Into A Snowboard

A bald eagle riding a dead skunk like a snowboard isn’t something you see every day, but a woman in Maine got it on video. It also doesn’t surprise Wyoming raptor experts, because eagles really like to cling to their food.

Mark HeinzMarch 12, 2025

Trees fused together in an “H” shape, with a single huge branch between them, are extremely rare, tree experts say — and perhaps the result of human meddling. This photo from the 1970s shows "H" trees in Idaho.

Trees Fused Together By Common Branch Extremely Rare, Sometimes Helped By Humans

Trees fused together in an “H” shape, with a single huge branch between them, are extremely rare, tree experts say, but they do happen. Horticulturalist Shane Smith told Cowboy State Daily usually there's some degree of human manipulation, but not always.

Mark HeinzMarch 10, 2025

Buildup of dead timber is a concern on National Forests in Wyoming and other Western States. Some forest users hope that under new leadership, the Forest Service will start cleaning it up. Here, large stands of dead trees in the Medicine Bow National Forest in southern Wyoming pose a wildfire risk.

Wyoming National Forest Users Mixed On Big Changes Under Trump

With the U.S. Forest Service undergoing changes in the new Trump administration, people who use those public lands are mixed. One Wyoming user says she’s worried, while another says he’s hopeful to weed out those “just there for a paycheck.”

Mark HeinzMarch 08, 2025

Hunters and trappers in Montana killed 289 wolves last year, and legislators there are pushing for more. But wolf conservation advocates plan to push back.

After 289 Wolves Killed In Montana Last Year, Bills Push For More Hunting

Hunters and trappers in Montana killed 289 wolves last year, and legislators there are pushing for more. One bill would extend hunting and trapping seasons by three months, and another would allow the use of thermal imaging and night vision scopes. 

Mark HeinzMarch 08, 2025

Farmers and ranchers in eastern Laramie County are worried about whether huge data centers springing up in Cheyenne will leave them with enough water for their cattle and crops.

Cheyenne Farmers Worry Huge Data Center Will Suck Up Their Irrigation Water

Farmers and ranchers in eastern Laramie County are worried that a massive Facebook (Meta) data center, along with similar future projects, will suck up the water they need. Cheyenne's mayor reassures them it won't.

Mark HeinzMarch 07, 2025

State Sens. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, left, and Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, successfully argued to restore money for a world-class shooting range near Cody.

Last-Minute Amendment Brings $19.5 Million Shooting Complex Back From The Dead

A $19.5 million Wyoming state shooting complex was declared dead after the Legislature refused to pitch in $10 million in state funds. A last-ditch amendment revived the project Thursday on the last day of the 2025 legislative session.

Mark HeinzMarch 07, 2025

Otters are no longer classified as a protected species in Wyoming, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be getting killed anytime soon, according to Game and Fish officials.

Wyoming Otters No Longer Protected, But Won’t Get Slaughtered

Otters are no longer classified as a protected species in Wyoming, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be getting killed anytime soon, according to Game and Fish officials.

Mark HeinzMarch 06, 2025

A rabbit species called Omiltemi cottontail thought to be extinct for 120 years was recently found in Mexico, mirroring the rediscovery of black-footed ferrets near Meeteetse, Wyoming, in 1981.

Rediscovery Of ‘Extinct’ Rabbit Mirrors Finding Wyoming Black-Footed Ferrets

A rabbit species thought to be extinct for 120 years was recently found in Mexico, mirroring the rediscovery of black-footed ferrets near Meeteetse, Wyoming, in 1981.

Mark HeinzMarch 05, 2025

A “clean-kill” predator law prompted by the high-profile torture of a wolf leads a list of new Wyoming wildlife laws. This 2025 session also saw new regulations for fishing guides and dogs caught in traps.

Wolf Torture Leads List Of New High-Profile Wyoming Wildlife Laws

A “clean-kill” predator law prompted by the high-profile torture of a wolf leads a list of new Wyoming wildlife rules. This 2025 session also saw new regulations for fishing guides and dogs caught in traps.

Mark HeinzMarch 05, 2025

Wyoming needs to kick its timber cutting into high gear or risk another catastrophic wildfire season, foresters told the Legislature on Tuesday. The danger is especially high in the Black Hills region, they say. Above, Wyoming State Forester Kelly Norris, left, and U.S. Forest Service regional forester Troy Heithecker testify for legislators.

Wyoming Can’t Cut Trees Fast Or Soon Enough, Timber Industry Says

Wyoming needs to kick its timber cutting into high gear or risk another catastrophic wildfire season, foresters told the Legislature on Tuesday. The danger is especially high in the Black Hills region, they say.

Mark HeinzMarch 04, 2025

Dylan Schilt with his four brothers in a Colorado hospital after Schilt, a Laramie firefighter, was hurt when a burning house collapsed on him.

Laramie Firefighter Paralyzed After Being Crushed In House Fire Collapse

A Laramie firefighter is facing a long rehabilitation after being paralyzed when a stone fireplace chase collapsed on him while fighting a house fire late Friday. His father told Cowboy State Daily that doctors believe his spinal cord is still intact.

Mark HeinzMarch 03, 2025

Nate Miller of Thermopolis has hunted numerous Wyoming species – such as elk and wolves. But he never dreamed he’d draw the state’s “super tag trifecta,” which will allow him to hunt three premier trophy game species this fall. He said elk is is favorite, but he's excited for some other tags he's never had before.

Wyoming Hunter Beats Huge Odds, Draws ‘Super Tag Trifecta’ To Hunt 3 Species

Nate Miller of Thermopolis put in for Wyoming’s Super Tag hunting tag raffle, not expecting to win anything. He beat astronomical odds to drew the most coveted prize of all, the three-species “trifecta” tag.

Mark HeinzMarch 01, 2025

With its pending elimination of gun-free zones, Wyoming will join New Hampshire, Alabama, Oregon and Utah in allowing people to carry concealed firearm in public school, without requiring the schools’ permission.

Wyoming Is Fifth State To Allow Guns In Public Schools Without Special Permission

With its pending elimination of gun-free zones, Wyoming will join New Hampshire, Alabama, Oregon and Utah in allowing people to carry concealed firearm in public school — without requiring the schools’ permission.

Mark HeinzFebruary 28, 2025

Plans for a huge, world-class shooting complex on this tract of land near Cody, Wyoming, are in limbo. A $10 million allocation for the $19.5 million projecrt was cut when the Legislature decided not to approve a suplemental budget this year. An effort to tag the money onto a nother bill failed, with some like Sen. Chris Rothfus, left, saying the money wasn't supposed to be approved that way. Othes like Sen. Stephan Pappas, right, saying the money's allready been approved.

Plans For $19.5M Wyoming Shooting Complex Stall As Senate Pulls Promised $10M

Boosters of a $19.5 million shooting complex south of Cody, Wyoming, hoped to start construction in April. Those hopes were dashed Friday when the state Senate declined to release $10 million in promised money for the project.

Mark HeinzFebruary 28, 2025

Mountain lions are known for their long, thick tails, but experts are baffled over somebody cutting the tail off a mountain lion that might have been killed illegally in Montana.

Nobody Can Figure Out Why Someone Cut Off And Took Mountain Lion’s Tail

Investigators are baffled by the case of somebody killing a mountain lion in Montana, and then cutting off and taking the animal’s head and tail. Taking a head makes sense, officials say, but the tail is baffling.

Mark HeinzFebruary 27, 2025

A snowmobile chases a wolf across a snowy landscape in Canada.

Anti-Wolf Torture Bill Clears The Legislature, Headed To Gordon’s Desk

A bill calling for possible felony charges against people who torture predators cleared the Legislature on Wednesday and is headed to Gov. Mark Gordon’s desk.

Mark HeinzFebruary 27, 2025

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Forest Service Chief’s Departure Fine By Us, Says Wyoming Delegation

Wyoming’s congressional delegation say they’re just fine with Wednesday’s surprise announcement that U.S. Forest Service chief Randy Moore is quitting. Rep. Harriet Hageman said it was welcome news as he mismanaged the agency.

Sean Barry & Mark HeinzFebruary 27, 2025

Spirit was the last cub of Wyoming's most famous bear, Grizzly 399, and was born in 2023. Spirit hasn't been seen since 399 was struck and killed by a car in October 2024, but many people think the cub might have survived the winter and will reappear soon.

Wyoming Grizzlies Could Start Waking Up Any Day, Will Grizzly 399’s Cub Show?

Wyoming’s grizzlies should start emerging from hibernation any time now, but nobody’s sure if Grizzly 399’s cub, Spirit, will be among them.

Mark HeinzFebruary 26, 2025

Concealed firearms carriers can legally shoot attacking dogs but should be prepared to back their stories up, self-defense experts say. It can be more complicated in a populated area, even leading to potential endangering charges.

You Can Shoot A Vicious Dog In Wyoming, But Be Prepared To Back It Up

Concealed firearms carriers can legally shoot attacking dogs but should be prepared to back their stories up, self-defense experts say. It can be more complicated in a populated area, even leading to potential endangering charges.

Mark HeinzFebruary 25, 2025

Cowboys compete in the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, billed as the "Daddy of 'em All," in this file photo.

Bill Aims To Protect Wyoming Rodeo From Animal Activists

Cody Republican Rachel Rodriguez-Williams says Wyoming’s rodeos need protection from animal rights activists. Her bill to protect rodeo passed out of committee Tuesday, while detractors claim it could open the door to puppy mills and dog fighting.

Mark HeinzFebruary 25, 2025

An exchange of roughly 100,000 acres between the federal government and a ranch in southcentral Wyoming would improve recreational access, supporters say. But Cowboy State hunters say the swap would be a raw deal.

Wyoming Hunters Say Proposed 100,000-Acre Land Swap Would Be A Raw Deal

An exchange of roughly 100,000 acres between the federal government and a ranch in southcentral Wyoming would improve recreational access, supporters say. But Cowboy State hunters say the swap would be a raw deal.

Mark HeinzFebruary 25, 2025

A fishing guide with a client on the Lewis River in Yellowstone National Park in this file photo.

Bill To Regulate Fishing Guides In Wyoming Clears State Senate

Fishing guides on both sides of the Wyoming-Colorado state line voiced support for a bill that could prevent the mobbing of Wyoming’s prized trout waters. The bill to regulate fishing guides cleared the Senate on Monday.

Mark HeinzFebruary 24, 2025

Firearms instructor Jason Crotteau shoots an SDS Tisas 2011 pistol – which is a Turkish clone of a far more expensive Staccatto 2011 pistol.

‘Turkish Revolution’ Hits American Firearms Scene With Cheap, Plentiful Imports

Turkish firearms were once considered a joke in the United States. Now they’re becoming wildly popular with American shooters, frequently selling for a fraction of the price of domestic brands.

Mark HeinzFebruary 23, 2025

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Colorado Senate Passes Sweeping Ban On Semiautomatic Firearms

Colorado lawmakers are one step closer to passing a sweeping gun ban on semiautomatic rifles, shotguns and pistols. A Wyoming gun rights advocate called it one of the nation’s most restrictive gun laws.

Mark HeinzFebruary 22, 2025

A Winchester Model 1894 rifle has been in Bob Budd’s family for a century. It still shoots straight and symbolizes a connection with the past.

Wyoming Family’s Winchester Rifle Has Been Dropping Deer For A Century

A Winchester Model 1894 rifle has been in Cheyenne resident Bob Budd’s family for a century. He says it still shoots straight and symbolizes a connection with the past as his grandfather and father killed their first deer with it, as did Budd and his two sons.

Mark HeinzFebruary 22, 2025

For the second year in a row, the Wyoming Legislature is close to giving Gov. Mark Gordon a bill to eliminate gun-free zones in the state. Gordon vetoed it last year, but isn’t saying if he’ll sign, veto or let it pass without a signature this year.

Repeal Of Gun-Free Zones Is Close To Gov. Gordon’s Desk — Will He Veto It Again?

For the second year in a row, the Wyoming Legislature is close to giving Gov. Mark Gordon a bill to eliminate gun-free zones in the state. Gordon vetoed it last year, but isn’t saying if he’ll sign, veto or let it pass without a signature this year.

Mark HeinzFebruary 21, 2025

A snowmobile chases a wolf across a snowy landscape in Canada.

'Clean Kill' For Predators Bill Advances — Without Wolf-Whacking Ban

A controversial “clean kill” for predators bill advanced Thursday. That it doesn’t include a ban running over wolves with snowmobiles — aka wolf whacking — remains a sticking point for many.

Mark HeinzFebruary 21, 2025

Opponents of coyote hunting contests say they involve needless killing. But supporters say these events involve ethical coyote hunting, with firearms or archery equipment.

Coyote Hunting Contest Prompts Wyomingites To Weigh Pros, Cons Of Events

Supporters of coyote hunting contests say that they’re helping big game herds. Opponents claim the events accomplish nothing and make Wyoming look bad.

Mark HeinzFebruary 21, 2025

State Rep. Brian Boner says as bill to allow shooting prairie dogs from vehicles isn't about sport, it's about pest management.

Wyoming Legislator Pushes Back On Claim Shooting Prairie Dogs Is “Psychopathic”

A retired professor told a Wyoming legislative committee Thursday that shooting prairie dogs is “psychopathic.” That raised the hackles of the sponsor of a bill to allow shooting the critters from vehicles. It’s about pest management, he says.

Mark HeinzFebruary 20, 2025

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Coyote Hunt Organizer Says She's Getting Death Threats Over Upcoming Event

An organizer of a coyote predator hunting contest in Sublette County says she’s getting death threats because people are perceiving it to be a “celebration” of the torture and killing of a wolf there last year.

Mark HeinzFebruary 19, 2025

Wyoming legislators and lobbyists talk in the hallway at the state Capitol before a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting where repealing gun-free zones was discussed.

Repeal of Wyoming’s Gun-Free Zones Clear Major Hurdle, Headed To Senate

A bill to repeal Wyoming’s gun-free zone was unanimously approved by a Wyoming Senate committee on Tuesday, and will head to the Senate Floor. Testimony included input from “More Guns, Less Crime” author John Lott.

Mark HeinzFebruary 19, 2025

Ryan Williams Spencer Albritton killed this 500-pound black bear in North Carolina, where such a bear would be on the small side.

Eastern Black Bears Are Blimps, Dwarfing Wyoming Grizzlies

In Wyoming, a black bear over 400 pounds is considered a rare trophy. But back East, it would be puny. Bears there gorge on fresh crops and sometimes top 800 pounds.

Mark HeinzFebruary 18, 2025

This huge wolf track in Moffat County, Colorado, is thought to have been made by a female wolf that was relocated from Oregon to Colorado in late 2023.

Colorado “Mystery Wolf” Might Be From Wyoming

Fifteen wolves from Canada, have been spreading out across northwest Colorado after being released last month. There’s also reportedly another mystery wolf running around, although nobody is sure where it came from. It might be from Wyoming.

Mark HeinzFebruary 17, 2025

People might think letting their cats out helps their pets live their best kitty lives, but they’re actually murder machines, killing billions of birds and small animals.

Outdoor Cats Are "Murder Machines" Killing Over 1 Billion Birds Every Year, Say Biologists

Letting pet cats out to roam might seem like it’s doing them a favor, but don’t be fooled — Fluffy is a murder machine. “The estimates are that cats in the U.S. kill a billion birds a year. A billion,” one wildlife biologist told Cowboy State Daily.

Mark HeinzFebruary 16, 2025

Gillette-area machinist Karl Milner builds black powder cannons and mortars, and hosts cannon shoots on his rural property — and kids are included.

Gillette Man Builds Black Powder Cannons, Lets Kids Shoot Them

What began as an outreach for troubled youth led to a Gillette machinist's shop becoming a black powder cannon and mortar factory. Now he builds cannons and lets kids shoot in a safe, controlled environment with adult supervision.

Mark HeinzFebruary 16, 2025

Though his bill to ban running predators over with snowmobiles failed, Wyoming Rep. Mike Schmid says he’s determined to “close the door” on the practice in Wyoming.

Wyoming Must 'Close The Door' On Running Over Wolves With Snowmobiles, Schmid Says

Though his bill to ban running predators over with snowmobiles failed, Wyoming Rep. Mike Schmid says he’s determined to “close the door” on the practice in Wyoming.

Mark HeinzFebruary 16, 2025

Demonstrating a suppressor attached to a Traditions 350 Legend.

Gun Owners Expect Trump To Lift Nearly 100-Year-Old Restrictions On Silencers

Under the Trump administration, Wyoming gun rights advocates hope that a 91-year-old restriction on suppressors — aka silencers — will be lifted. However, nobody expects fully automatic weapons to become readily available.

Mark HeinzFebruary 15, 2025

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Trump Order Might Help Wyoming Couple Get Back Guns Seized By ATF

Thanks to an executive order from President Donald Trump, a Sheridan couple who lost their guns in an ATF raid might get them back.

Mark HeinzFebruary 15, 2025

Sabrina King with the Wyoming chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers speaks during a rally at the state Capitol in Cheyenne on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025.

Sportsmen Rally Against “Bad Bills” They Say Would Ruin Wyoming’s Outdoor Paradise

With what they call “bad bills” being considered by the Wyoming Legislature, a group of hunters and anglers rallied outside the Capitol on Thursday. They say average people need more political clout to keep Wyoming an outdoor paradise.

Mark HeinzFebruary 14, 2025

The Wyoming Capitol in Cheyenne is a gun-free zone, but a bill is moving through the Legislature that could lift the designation.

With Repeal Of Wyoming’s Gun-Free Zones Likely, Opponents Ask For Exceptions

Even some opponents of a bill to repeal Wyoming’s gun-free zones seemed resigned to it likely passing during testimony before legislators Thursday. Now they’re asking for exceptions.

Mark HeinzFebruary 14, 2025

Wyoming Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik before his retirement Sept. 11, 2024. He began his career with Game and Fish in 1995 and was appointed as director by Gov. Mark Gordon in 2019.

Trump Picks Former Wyoming Game And Fish Chief Nesvik To Head Fish And Wildlife

Only months after retiring as director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Brian Nesvik has been picked by President Donald Trump to head the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Mark HeinzFebruary 12, 2025

Rep. Tomi Strock, R-Douglas, talks about the crumbling La Prele Dam on the House floor Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.

Legislators: If State’s Paying $90M For New La Prele Dam, Public Needs Access

If $90 million of Wyoming taxpayer money is going toward rebuilding the LaPrele Dam near Douglas, the public should have recreational access to the reservoir, legislators say.

Mark HeinzFebruary 11, 2025

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‘Shot Heard ‘Round The World’ Observance To Honor 250th Anniversary Of Revolutionary War

Kevin Cox has organized an event on April 19 where gun owners in all 50 states will fire their guns at the same time on the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War, otherwise known as the "Shot Heard 'Round The World."

Mark HeinzFebruary 11, 2025

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Wyoming Redneck Chronicles, Part 2: Cheyenne Mechanic's .50 Caliber Black Powder Cannon

A fully-functional miniature black powder cannon sounds like the dream of many a Wyoming man’s inner 14-year-old. Cheyenne mechanic Geno Stecks agrees his .50 caliber piece – modeled after a Revolutionary War Naval gun – is an absolute hoot. 

Mark HeinzFebruary 09, 2025

Debbie Neves is one of many mountain lion hunters who succeeded with the help of hounds. Pursuing mountain lions with hounds remains the most effective way to hunt them.

Are Wyoming Mountain Lions Better At Killing Each Other Than Hunters Are At Killing Them?

The best hunters of mountain lions? Mountain lions. A study of mountain lions in the Snowy Range Mountains suggests that the big cats can control their own population just as well, or better, than hunters can.

Mark HeinzFebruary 09, 2025

Tiny, A 2,000-Pound Texas Longhorn Is An Officially Registered Emotional Support Animal

Meet Tiny, A 2,000-Pound Texas Longhorn And Officially Registered Emotional Support Animal

Fed up with the “emotional support animal crock of crap,” a Texan decided it would be funny to try registering his massive longhorn steer as an emotional support animal. It worked.

Mark HeinzFebruary 08, 2025

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Feds Will Listen To Wyoming This Time About BLM Rock Springs Plan, Former Trump Interior Official Says 

A former high-ranking Dept of Interior official told Cowboy State Daily that the BLM's Rock Springs area plan will likely be heavily revised toward Wyoming’s liking and will be "very respectful" of Gov. Mark Gordon's recommendations.

Mark HeinzFebruary 07, 2025

Rep. Bill Allemand testifies in favor of his bill that would increase penalties for trespassing in Wyoming. Feb 6, 2025

Without Stiffer Trespass Law, There Could Be Gunfights, ‘Blood On The Prairie,’ Lawmaker Says

A bill that would have stiffened Wyoming’s hunting trespass penalties died in committee on Thursday. The bill’s sponsor warned of violence if more isn’t done to curb trespassing. "I fear there will be shootouts and blood on the prairie,” Rep. Allemand said

Mark HeinzFebruary 06, 2025

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Trump Administration Shuts Down Controversial Biden-Era Rock Springs Management Plan 

Sweetwater County officials were thrilled at news that a controversial federal land management plan had been shut down by the Trump administration. Newly-appointed Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum made the decision late Wednesday.

Mark HeinzFebruary 06, 2025

Wyoming Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce testifies about the potential for grizzly delisting during a Wyoming legislative committee meeting Feb. 4, 2025.

Wyoming Game And Fish Director Says “Stars Are Aligned” For Grizzly Delisting

Wyoming Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce told legislators Tuesday that getting grizzlies delisted is a top priority for the agency. “I think the stars are aligned,” she said.

Mark HeinzFebruary 04, 2025

Wyoming’s wide-open spaces are one of the greatest things that fishing guides have to offer their clients — but there’s concerned about out-of-state guides without permits crowding Wyoming’s waters.

In Brief: Bill To Regulate Out-Of-State Fishing Passes House

A bill intended to prevent Wyoming’s prized fishing waters from being mobbed by out-of-state guides passed the Wyoming House on Monday and is headed for the Senate.

Mark HeinzFebruary 04, 2025

State Rep. Abby Angelos, R-Gillette.

Shooting Complex Budget Swells To $19.5M, Including $3.5M More From State

The anticipated budget for a “world-class” shooting complex near Cody, Wyoming, is up from $10 million to $19.5 million, including another $3.5 million from the state.

Mark HeinzFebruary 04, 2025

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Wyomingites Could Concealed Carry In All 50 States Under Bills Trump Favors

Wyomingites might be able to carry concealed firearms in all 50 states, if Trump-backed legislation passes Congress. A pair of bills making their way through Congress would make concealed carry permits valid in all states.

Mark HeinzFebruary 04, 2025

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Like Wolves, Wyoming’s Stray Cats Aren’t Protected From Torture

Wyoming’s stray cats could end up benefiting from a push to protect wolves from torture. Like wolves, they’re considered predators, and some advocate for controlling their numbers through spaying or neutering rather than shooting them.

Mark HeinzFebruary 02, 2025

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Apparently, Few Knew It’s Illegal To Blast Wyoming Prairie Dogs From A Vehicle

A Casper-area man said it took him by surprise to learn that shooting prairie dogs from a vehicle is illegal. Another avid hunter said he also didn’t know because it’s such a common practice in Wyoming.

Mark HeinzFebruary 01, 2025

Frontier Arms and Supply owner Ryan Allen, right, conducts a credit card transaction with a customer at the Cheyenne gun shop in this file photo.

Lobbyist: Tracking Sales Part Of ESG Scheme To Put Gun Stores Out Of Business

A Second Amendment advocate says Wyoming’s law against tracking credit card sales of guns and ammunition is “weak” and plays into an ESG scheme to put gun stores out of business. He also says it could put people at risk of getting on a federal registry.

Mark HeinzJanuary 31, 2025

Wyoming Game and Fish Chief Game Warden Angie Bruce, left, and Afton resident Becky Barber testified Thursday about a trapping reform bill. Barber's dog Jester died in a trap last February.

Less Than A Year After Dog Named Jester Died In Trap, Trapping Reform Moves Forward

A tearful Becky Barber of Afton, Wyoming, testified for a state Senate committee about how her dog Jester had his throat crushed by a beaver trap last February. She was among those supporting a trapping reform bill, which unanimously passed.

Mark HeinzJanuary 30, 2025

Michelle Woerner from K9s 4 Mobility testifies for on a service dogs bill Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.

Legislators Say They Want To Protect Real Service Animals, Not “Fluffy Dog” Pets

A bill passed by a Senate committee Wednesday says people should be allowed to train their service dogs in public in Wyoming. It also calls for severe penalties for those who want allowances for their “fluffy dog” pets.

Mark HeinzJanuary 30, 2025

A legislative bill proposes lifting most of the restrictions on mountain lion hunting in Wyoming. Opponents worry that would lead to a slaughter of too many of the big cats.

Open Season On Wyoming Mountain Lions Would Be Overkill, Hunters Say

A proponent of an open season on mountain lions says a bill allowing year-round hunting would save Wyoming’s prized mule deer. But some mountain lion hunters argue it could wipe out the big cats.

Mark HeinzJanuary 29, 2025

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Bill Would Reverse Ban On Shooting Prairie Dogs From Your Truck

A Wyoming man told legislators that he and his friends were flabbergasted when a game warden confronted them about illegally shooting prairie dogs from a pickup. A House committee voted Tuesday for a bill that would make that legal.

Mark HeinzJanuary 29, 2025

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Some Say Legislative Response To Wyoming Wolf Torture Doesn’t Go Far Enough

Lawmakers unanimously advanced a bill that would outlaw torturing wolves and other predators Tuesday. But some Wyomingites say running animals over with snowmobiles should also be banned.

Mark HeinzJanuary 29, 2025

A whitetail deer, left, and mule deer, right.

Bill To Split Whitetail-Mule Deer Season Dies On Senate Floor

After another round of debate over whether to split hunting seasons for Wyoming’s white-tailed deer and mule deer, the latest effort to do so died on the Senate floor Monday.

Mark HeinzJanuary 28, 2025

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Casper Turkeys Wear Out Their Welcome: 145 Removed So Far Through Trapping Program

If a trap-and-release program succeeds, Casper will no longer be wild turkey central. So far, 145 of the big, obnoxious birds have been caught and released back into the wild.

Mark HeinzJanuary 27, 2025

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Allowing Landowners To Sell Hunting Tags Would Make Wyoming Wildlife Sport For The Rich, Opponents Say

A proposal to allow landowners to sell their hunting tags would make hunting in Wyoming the sport of kings, opponents say. It would amount to “nothing more than the exploitation and monetization of our wildlife resources," said Muley Fanatics Foundation CEO Josh Coursey.

Mark HeinzJanuary 27, 2025

Harriet Hageman and others say there’s a chance Wyoming’s grizzlies will be delisted from endangered status after all with President Donald Trump back in office. His pick for Interior secretary says “I’m with you” on delisting.

With Trump Back In Office, Hageman Says Grizzly Delisting Back On The Table

Congresswoman Harriet Hageman and others say there’s a much better chance grizzlies will be delisted from endangered status with President Trump back in office. His pick for Interior secretary says “I’m with you” on delisting.

Mark HeinzJanuary 25, 2025

Guns for Christmas owner of Frontier Arms IMG 1905 12 23 copy

Wyoming Shooters Say They Don’t Support Eliminating Sales Tax On Guns, Ammo

A proposal to eliminate sales tax on guns and ammo in Wyoming is a nice gesture, some sportsmen say, but cutting taxes across the board would be better.

Mark HeinzJanuary 25, 2025

A pack of gray wolves in Wyoming.

Bills Could Help Wyoming's Image After Wolf Abuse, Say Retired Wildlife Officers

In response to the abuse of a wolf near Daniel last year, Wyoming aims to outlaw allowing animals to suffer. Some retired wildlife officers say the state's image is still tarnished, and that running wolves down with snowmobiles should also be banned.

Mark HeinzJanuary 25, 2025

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More Than Just Fishing Guides May Need To Be Regulated, Legislators Say

A bill calling for more regulation of fishing guides in Wyoming prompted a broader discussion about whether all forms of outdoor recreation need more oversight here -- including rock climbers, mountain bikers and others, legislators said Thursday.

Mark HeinzJanuary 24, 2025

State Rep. Bill Allemand, R-Midwest, wants to close a loophole in Wyoming's wildlife laws that technically makes it illegal to trap and kill a mouse in your vehicle. You could get a year in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Killing A Mouse In Your Truck Can Get You A Year In Jail In Wyoming

A Wyoming legislator wants to close some loopholes in Wyoming wildlife laws. That includes eliminating one that technically could get someone a year in jail and fined $10,000 for killing a mouse inside a vehicle.

Mark HeinzJanuary 24, 2025

After the success of a one-room schoolhouse in remote north Albany County, Wyoming is poised for more across the state. A bill to create more rural schools passed the House Education Committee unanimously Wednesday.

Inspired By ‘Little Siberia’ Schoolhouse, Support Grows For Rural Wyoming Schools

After the success of a one-room schoolhouse in remote north Albany County, Wyoming is poised for more across the state. A bill to create more rural schools passed the House Education Committee unanimously Wednesday.

Mark HeinzJanuary 23, 2025

Heather and Charles Maude, owners of Maude Hog & Cattle near Caputa, South Dakota, were each served with separate federal indictments over a fence line dispute with the U.S. Forest Service.

Hageman Blasts Feds For “Weaponized” Intimidation Of Ranch Family Over Fence

Harriet Hageman is calling out federal officials for an armed federal agent in tactical gear showing up on a South Dakota ranch over a fence line dispute. She condemns the “weaponized” response and wants the feds to explain themselves.

Mark HeinzJanuary 22, 2025

State Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, in hat, testified Tuesday in favor of a bill that would split whitetail and mule deer hunting seasons in Wyoming.

Bill To Split Whitetail And Mule Deer Seasons Passes, But Some Hunters Not Sold

A bill that will split whitetail and mule deer seasons passed out of a legislative committee Tuesday. But some Wyoming hunters say that won’t help.

Mark HeinzJanuary 22, 2025

A woman fly fishes from a drift boat on the North Platte River near Casper, Wyoming.

Bill Aims To Stop Wyoming’s Prime Trout Waters Getting Mobbed By Out-Of-Staters

Wyoming’s prime trout fishing spots are getting mobbed by out-of-staters. Backers of a bill said Tuesday it could stop that by restricting the number of boats allowed on prime sections of the state’s rivers.

Mark HeinzJanuary 21, 2025

Unraveling “whodunit” mysteries when cattle or big game animals are killed by predators can be a gory, gooey business, but there’s vital clues in the carcasses for those who know how to look.

“Grape Jelly” Blood Clots And Dismemberment Can Determine What Kills Wildlife

Investigating possible grizzly, wolf and lion kills can be a messy business. But there are vital clues in bloody, dismembered wildlife carcasses, experts say.

Mark HeinzJanuary 19, 2025

After a dry start to winter, Wyoming snowmobilers are enjoying a bounty of fresh powder in the mountains.

Snowmobilers Stoked Snow Is Finally Piling Up Around Wyoming

After a slow start to the snowmobiling season, with little of the white stuff in December, Wyoming snowmobilers are stoked it’s filing piling up. It’s good news for Cowboy State lodges, too.

Mark HeinzJanuary 18, 2025

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Big Horn ATF Raid Eerily Similar To "Clown Show" In 2002, Former Sheriff Says

A former Sublette County Sheriff says an ATF raid on a couple in Big Horn, Wyoming, mirrors a 2002 incident in his county. He says his office was misled by the federal agency and calls the response a “clown show.”

Mark HeinzJanuary 18, 2025

The House Judiciary Committee discuses a bill to do away with Wyoming's gun-free zones.

Repealing Gun-Free Zones Won’t Mean AR-15s In Wyoming Capitol, Sponsor Says

The debate over whether to repeal Wyoming’s gun-free zones heated up again Friday. A bill before the Legislature similar to one Gov. Mark Gordon vetoed last year is back, but its sponsor says it wouldn’t mean AR-15s in the state Capitol.

Mark HeinzJanuary 17, 2025

A snowmobile chases a wolf across a snowy landscape in Canada.

Responding To Daniel Wolf Torture, Wyoming Hunters Back "Clean Kill Bill"

In response to the notorious case of a wolf being run over with a snowmobile and tortured, a bill before the Wyoming Legislature aims to make wildlife abuse a felony offence. It’s backed by a coalition of Wyoming hunters.

Mark HeinzJanuary 17, 2025

ATF agents raid a house in this file photo.

“It Was Hell,” Wyoming Couple Says About Pre-Dawn Raid By ATF Agents

A Big Horn couple says an ATF raid for their firearms “was hell.” But the state of Wyoming says their firearms were legal, and they have the paperwork to prove it. A bill planned for this session aims to “clarify” that state-federal conflict.

Mark HeinzJanuary 17, 2025

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Harshman Introduces Bill To Build A Mount Rushmore-Type Monument In Wyoming

Rep. Steve Harshman told Cowboy State Daily that his bill to build a "Monument to America" in Wyoming would create a monument "similar in size and scope to Mount Rushmore" and feature important historical American figures.

Mark HeinzJanuary 15, 2025

A big bull elk scrounges for food in deep snow in Wyoming in this file photo.

Bill Would Hike Wyoming Hunting License Application Fees By 300% To 400%

Hunting license application fees could see huge increases in Wyoming, jumping 300% for Wyomingites and 400% for nonresidents under a legislative bill. Game and Fish would put that money to good use, proponents say. 

Mark HeinzJanuary 15, 2025

A proposed new bill in Colorado would ban many semiautomatic firearms with detachable magazines. That could include many modern pistols.

Wyoming Closely Watching Aggressive Colorado Bill To Ban Semiautomatic Weapons

Wyoming gun owners are watching the progress of an aggressive proposed ban on semiautomatic firearms in Colorado. It would ban many guns with detachable magazines, including many modern pistols and even some duck hunters' shotguns.

Mark HeinzJanuary 14, 2025

One of five wolves reintroduced to northern Colorado in December 2023.

Wolves From Canada Arrive In Colorado, Nobody’s Saying Where They’ll Be Released

A group of wolves have been flown from Canada to Colorado for another round of reintroductions, which has been highly controversial. There’s no word yet on when and where they’ll be released. 

Mark HeinzJanuary 13, 2025

Whether to split deer season into separate season for mule deer, left, and white-tailed, right, will be debated by the Wyoming Legislature.

Bill Splitting Deer Seasons Would Just Get More Mule Deer Shot, Biologist Says

Advocates of legislative bill to split Wyoming hunting seasons for white-tailed and mule deer say it will help save mule deer. A retired wildlife biologist says that would just get more mule deer killed.

Mark HeinzJanuary 13, 2025

Hunter Cade Cole took things to the extreme on an elk hunt in the mountains near Dubois. He didn’t pack any food or water, and lived off the land.

Getting Back To The Roots Of Hunting: Wyoming Man Tests Himself On Primitive Elk Hunt

A Wyoming hunter tested his ability to survive in the woods, taking only a recurve bow, two horses and a mule on a several-day hunt — but no food, water or matches. He lived off the land for days before bagging a bull elk.

Mark HeinzJanuary 12, 2025

Some hunters claim that technology, such as rifles designed to shoot 1,000 yards or more, is ruining the sport. The ethics of long-range hunting is a debate that's not going away.

Hunters Wonder How Far Is Too Far To Shoot Big Game Using Technology

Some hunters claim that technology, such as rifles designed to shoot 1,000 yards or more, is ruining the sport. The issue has also sparked a debate about how ethical it is to shoot game from extreme distances.

Mark HeinzJanuary 11, 2025

Former Interior Sec. Bruce Babbitt (far right) helping to carry the first wolf to arrive in Yellowstone on Jan 12, 1995

30 Years Of Yellowstone Wolves: Feds Released Them In 1995 Without Telling Wyoming

30 years ago on Sunday, wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone. Then-Wyoming Gov Jim Geringer recalls former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt gave the state no notice and told him not to worry because the wolves would never leave the park.

Mark HeinzJanuary 11, 2025

Colorado wildlife agents and ice climbers work together to free a young bull elk trapped on steep hillside after its antlers got tangled in a climbing rope.

Rescuers Risk Lives To Save Elk That Got Tangled In Rope On Colorado Cliffside

A young bull elk got its antlers tangled in a rope on a near-vertical hillside in Colorado last week, prompting a dangerous rescue attempt. Wildlife agents and a group of climbers risked their lives to save the animal.

Mark HeinzJanuary 10, 2025

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In Brief: Wyoming Game And Fish Director Blasts Feds For Not Delisting Grizzlies

Wyoming Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce on Thursday blasted the Biden administration’s decision to not take grizzly bears off the endangered list. She said the feds are undermining the state’s bear management work.

Mark HeinzJanuary 09, 2025

State Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie

Proposed Bill Would Make Corner-Crossing Legal In Wyoming

The question of corner-crossing in Wyoming should be settled once and for all in favor of accessing public land, says a Wyoming legislator sponsoring a bill to make it legal.

Mark HeinzJanuary 09, 2025

An obsidian sow and her three cubs in this file photo. The Biden administration on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, left Western grizzlies on the endangered list.

Biden Won’t Delist Grizzlies; Gordon Blasts Decision As “Politics, Not Biology”

Grizzlies in the Lower 48 will remain under endangered species protection, federal officials announced Wednesday. Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon slammed the decision as a parting shot from the outgoing Biden administration, calling it “politics, not policy.”

Mark HeinzJanuary 08, 2025

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

Owlmageddon! To Save Spotted Owls, Feds To Kill Nearly 500,000 Other Owls

To help save spotted owls, federal officials plan to kill nearly 500,000 of a similar species, barred owls. The barred owls are bigger and are hogging the spotted owls’ food, wildlife officials say.

Mark HeinzJanuary 08, 2025

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If Wyoming Grizzlies Are Delisted, They Won’t Be On Restaurant Menus

Grizzlies might soon be delisted from federal protection and hunted in Wyoming, but don’t expect grizzly steaks on the menu at your favorite restaurant. Selling wild game meat is illegal.

Mark HeinzJanuary 07, 2025

This odd-looking fawn is a member of the Wyoming Range mule deer herd, and might have a genetic mutation called leucism.

Mutant Blue-Eyed Wyoming Mule Deer Fawn With A Light Coat Causing A Stir

A mutant Wyoming mule deer with striking blue eyes and a light coat is causing a stirr among wildlife watchers. It's a rare animal, but appears to be healthy, wildlife observers say.

Mark HeinzJanuary 06, 2025

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

Roadkill Lovers Using Tech So They Can Scoop Up & Eat

Fans of eating roadkill have created apps and social media alerts so as soon as roadkill is created, connoisseurs can go to the site, scoop up the remains and get them loaded up on a barbecue.

Mark HeinzJanuary 05, 2025

Mae, a Danish-Swedish farmdog, tracked down a hunter’s lost elk near Encampment, Wyoming.

Tiny, Rare Wyoming Dog Tracks Down Elk For Hunters, Starred In TV Commercial

Mae, a tiny and rare Danish-Swedish farmdog from Cheyenne, tracks down elk and starred in a national TV commercial. She’s also one of only two of her breed known in Wyoming.

Mark HeinzJanuary 05, 2025

Jason Harris and his sister, Madison, are pictured here during a break from one of Jason’s long-distance desert motorcycle races.

Wyoming Motorcycle Racer Recovers From Broken Back To Go Pro At 17

Jason Harris of Lyman, Wyoming, learned to ride a motorcycle at age 4. He broke his back in a 2023 crash, but recovered quickly and, at 17, is going pro as a long-distance racer.

Mark HeinzJanuary 05, 2025

Lifestraw 1 5 25

Filtration Straws Are Good For Drinking From Rivers But Probably Not Raw Sewage

Specialized filtration straws allow people to drink safely from mountain streams, rivers, and lakes. Wyoming outdoorsmen told Cowboy State Daily they work great but don't recommend trying it on raw sewage.

Mark HeinzJanuary 04, 2025

A whitetail buck (left) and a mule deer buck recently fought to the point of complete exhaustion in South Dakota. The bucks were separated, but it’s not clear whether they survived.

Rare Whitetail-Mule Deer Fight Highlights Conflict Between Wyoming Species

A rare fight caught on video between a mule deer and whitetail buck highlights the conflict between the species in Wyoming.

Mark HeinzJanuary 03, 2025

A herd of elk stand close together on a snowy Wyoming range.

Once Just A Problem For Deer, Deadly CWD Now Might Explode In Wyoming Elk Herds

Chronic wasting disease has been a problem for deer herds in Wyoming. Now that it’s been found in an elk in the Jackson area, hunters might have to get used to it being everywhere.

Mark HeinzJanuary 01, 2025

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