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.
Latest from Mark Heinz
Hot Springs County In An Uproar Over Cuts To 4-H, Extension Programs
The Hot Springs County Commission faced backlash Tuesday from residents upset over deep cuts to the county’s extension office and 4-H program. Commissioners say it's necessary due to lagging oil and gas revenue and a 25% cut in property taxes.
Mark HeinzJuly 02, 2025
Hacking Live Trees To Make Lean-To On Trail Not Only Inconsiderate, It’s Illegal
Responsible users of the public trails on Casper Mountain were outraged this week when someone cut down about 20 young, live trees and made a lean-to on a trail. That’s not only inconsiderate, it’s illegal — if the perpetrators are ever caught.
Mark HeinzJune 28, 2025
It’s Sweet Home Alabama For Bears On Southern ‘Grizzly Ranch’
Alabama might be the last place you’d expect to find grizzly bears, but there are several of them thriving there on the Grizzly Ranch Bear Rescue. The man who runs it says it's his mission in life to rescue bears.
Mark HeinzJune 27, 2025
Laramie Firefighter Crushed And Paralyzed In House Fire Walks Out Of Hospital
Laramie firefighter Dylan Schilt was left temporarily paralyzed when a massive stone chimney chase collapsed on him and a colleague on Feb. 28. After four months of intense work, he walked out of a Denver inpatient physical therapy center last week.
Mark HeinzJune 26, 2025
Former Asst. Interior Secretary Says Downfall Of Land Sale Bill Lee’s Own Fault
Sen. Mike Lee has only himself to blame for the downfall of his plan to sell federal public lands. Former Assistant Interior Secretary Rob Wallace says Lee shot his bill in the foot when “he cut the public out of the discussion.”
Mark HeinzJune 26, 2025
Purple Heart Vet On Wyoming Hunt Almost Tangled With Moose — And Wants To Come Back
As a Purple Heart recipient, Hank Ward has seen a lot, but he’ll never forget the first time he saw a moose in the wild in Wyoming. He almost tangled with a young bull that didn’t see him. Like many vets treated to Wyoming hunts, Ward wants to come back.
Mark HeinzJune 25, 2025
Wyoming Hunters Say They’ll Oppose Public Land Sales, No Matter What
Wyoming hunters said they won’t budge from their staunch opposition to selling public land. That’s despite U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, still pushing for a revised version of his federal land sales measure in a Senate budget bill.
Mark HeinzJune 25, 2025
One Reason For Firearms Sales Lag Could Be That ‘Everybody Who Wanted One Has One’
While the firearms industry is cyclical, the current slump in gun and ammo sales might defy the usual explanations. The owner of a Riverton tactical shooters training company says AR-15 sales could be down because “everybody who wanted one has one.”
Mark HeinzJune 25, 2025
Former Governors Say Bipartisan Anger Over Public Land Sales Not Surprising
Wyoming’s four living former governors — two Republicans and two Democrats — say they aren’t surprised about the bipartisan anger over the sale of federal public lands. Accessible wildlands are a defining element of Wyoming’s culture, they say.
Mark HeinzJune 24, 2025
Hunters And Others Angry About Being Locked Out Of Popular Snowy Range Road
An elk hunter said he nearly trashed his truck and camper because he got locked onto Boswell Road in Albany County and had to drive out the back way in a blizzard. He’s not the only one, as debate continues about whether the road is public or private.
Mark HeinzJune 24, 2025
Lee Offers Compromise On Public Land Sales Bill, Hunters Say No Deal
Facing scathing backlash from hunters over proposed federal land sales, Utah Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Lee says he’s willing to “make changes” to his bill. But hunters say compromise is impossible and the bill needs to die.
Mark HeinzJune 23, 2025
Legendary Outdoorsman Jack Dennis Says Pinedale Fight Fuels Tension Between Floaters, Landowners
A spat between anglers and a landowner over a natural water channel connecting Pine Creek and the New Fork River near Pinedale reflects a growing trend of tension between landowners and floaters across Wyoming. “It’s symbolic of greater issues,” outdoorsman Jack Dennis says.
Mark HeinzJune 22, 2025
‘Roadless Rule’ Leaves Wyoming Vulnerable To More Huge Wildfires, Hageman Says
The 24-year-old federal Clinton Roadless Rule is largely to blame for Wyoming’s devastating wildfires, Rep. Harriet Hageman says. She told Wyoming legislators Thursday that more blazes are in store if the rule isn’t changed.
Mark HeinzJune 20, 2025
More Changes For Rock Springs BLM Plan; Locals Say ‘We’ve Studied That Thing To Death’
In what’s become a familiar pattern, the Bureau of Land Management’s controversial Rock Springs management plan is up for another round of reviews. Wyoming legislators and officials say “we’ve studied that thing to death.”
Mark HeinzJune 19, 2025
Selling Federal Public Land Draws Massive Backlash From Western Hunters
Hunters are up in arms over potential federal public land sales included in a U.S. Senate budget bill. Prominent groups like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Wyoming's Muley Fanatic Foundation, and The Boone And Crockett Club all blasted the proposal.
Mark HeinzJune 19, 2025
Hageman Says Vast Swaths Of Wyoming Public Lands Won’t Be Sold
Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman says a Wilderness Society map that shows nearly 15 million acres of public land could be sold if the Senate budget bill passes is wrong. The group stands by its report, which it says is based on what the language of the bill says.
Mark HeinzJune 18, 2025
‘Cody Roberts Days’ Banner Greets Pro-Wolf Activists On Ride Through Daniel
When pro-wolf activists arrived in Daniel, Wyoming, on Saturday to protest the state’s wolf management policies, they were greeted by a large banner celebrating the man who made international headlines for reportedly running down a wolf with a snowmobile.
Mark HeinzJune 18, 2025
Angler Shoots, Kills Charging Cow Moose Near Resort In Bighorn Mountains
An angler shot and killed a cow moose he says charged him Saturday on the North Tongue River near Bear Lodge Resort in the Bighorn Mountains. The cow’s two young calves had to be put down.
Mark HeinzJune 17, 2025
German Shepherd Jumps From Vehicle, Tries To Run Down Wolf In Yellowstone
A German shepherd showed its predator instincts Friday, leaping from a vehicle and chasing a wolf in Yellowstone National Park. A wildlife guide said the wolf, a juvenile, might have felt intimidated.
Mark HeinzJune 17, 2025
Harley Rider Manages To Stay On Bike After Plowing Into Deer Near Devils Tower
Kyle Hamilton counts himself as extremely lucky after he plowed into a deer while riding his motorcycle near Devils Tower but managed to keep the bike upright and on the road. His friend’s dash cam caught the incident on video
Mark HeinzJune 16, 2025
It’s A Good Thing California Doesn’t Have Grizzlies, Bear Spray Is Banned There
While officials admonish hikers to carry bear spray in Wyoming’s Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, it’s banned in California’s Yosemite National Park. They consider it a weapon and are worried people will spray each other with it.
Mark HeinzJune 15, 2025
Landowner Tag Changes Could Hurt Hunts For Disabled Vets, Organizers Worry
A proposal to raise the number of acres to qualify for landowner hunting tags in Wyoming from 160 to 640 has organizers of hunts for disabled veterans worried. Their concern is the change would shrink the pool of donated tags available to veterans.
Mark HeinzJune 15, 2025
Marmots Might Seem Harmless, But They’ll Chew Up And Destroy Your Car
Marmots might seem pudgy and harmless, but they can disable vehicles by chewing up hoses and wires. Some people are now wrapping their cars in tarps to protect against the ravenous rodents.
Mark HeinzJune 14, 2025
Wisconsin Man Sets New World Record For Largest Grizzly Ever Killed By A Hunter
A Wisconsin man has set a new world record for the largest grizzly ever killed by a hunter. The size of the Alaskan bear is "staggering" and experts say this record will be next to impossible to beat.
Mark HeinzJune 14, 2025
After Two Sasquatch Sightings In Colorado, Boulder County Puts On Bigfoot Hunt
Boulder County has been buzzing with Sasquatch fever after two reported sightings this year both in the vicinity of Longmont. So a group of Bigfoot-hunters went out on Friday night to track him down. Although they came up empty-handed, the group plans another outing this summer.
Mark HeinzJune 14, 2025
Popular Snowy Range Road Stays Closed Because Nobody Can Figure Out Who Owns It
Boswell Road in southeast Wyoming’s Snowy Range has been there since before Wyoming was a state. But it remains officially closed because nobody can figure out who owns it. In the meantime, the closure is killing a housing project.
Mark HeinzJune 14, 2025
Tourist Who Buzzed Yellowstone Osprey Nest With Drone Could Get Six Months In Jail
A tourist allegedly used a drone to buzz an osprey nest in Yellowstone National Park and could face up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine for the violation of park rules.
Mark HeinzJune 12, 2025
Tempers Flare Over Selling Landowner Hunting Tags During Heated Hearing
Tempers flared during a legislative hearing Wednesday in debates over whether Wyoming ranchers should be allowed to sell their landowner hunting tags. It could be just a warm-up a fight ahead in the 2026 session.
Mark HeinzJune 12, 2025
Yellowstone Antelope Relentlessly Chase Coyote That Tried To Snatch Fawn
Getting a meal is no easy task for coyotes in Yellowstone National Park. One unfortunate coyote was relentlessly pursued by some pronghorn after trying to snatch a fawn in the Lamar Valley.
Mark HeinzJune 10, 2025
‘Nonresident Native’ Tags Could Bring Former Wyomingites Back Home To Hunt
People born and raised in Wyoming who move to other states must pay expensive nonresident tag fees to come back to hunt. Legislators are considering lower-priced “nonresident native” hunting tags for them.
Mark HeinzJune 09, 2025