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

Laramie Elk Caller, 9, Guns For World Title Against Others Nearly Twice His Age

Laramie 9-year-old elk caller Axl Anton is set to compete against teens nearly twice his age in the world elk calling championship this month. He's already "in the top five best callers in the country, if not the best,” said a hunting industry insider.

Mark HeinzJuly 12, 2026

Wyoming’s mule deer are doing good so far this year, but there’s concern over their forage drying out before they can fatten up enough for winter.

Rain Gives Wyoming Mule Deer A Boost, But They’ll Need To Pack On Fat For Winter

Wyoming’s mule deer are enjoying lush forage for now in the high country, but there’s concern if the low country dries out and winter hits hard. "If it's any sort of normal winter, it's going to be rough," says Bill Ames of the Wyoming Mule Deer Alliance.

Mark HeinzJuly 12, 2026

Some say chainsaws should be allowed wilderness areas to clear trails of dead trees. Others argue that wilderness is no place for machinery of any kind.

As Dead Trees Clog Wyoming Wilderness Trails, Some Argue For Using Chainsaws

So many dead trees are piling up on Wyoming’s remote wilderness trails, some outfitters say they should be allowed to use chainsaws to clear them rather than working for days with hand tools. Chainsaws have been banned from those areas for 62 years.

Mark HeinzJuly 11, 2026

Investigators Say Colorado Bear That Ate Human Remains Shouldn’t Crave People

Investigators don’t think a bear or bears that ate parts of a human body found Sunday near Grand Mesa in western Colorado will develop a taste for people. They likely didn’t hunt the person, but instead scavenged someone already dead.

Mark HeinzJuly 10, 2026

For about 20 years, tire scars have marred the side of Fossil Hill near Sinks Canyon in Fremont County. Retired Forest Service ranger Karl Brauneis said.

Sinks Canyon Public Land Damaged By Illegal Off-Roaders 'May Never Recover'

Off-roading tire ruts have marred Fossil Hill at Sinks Canyon near Lander for more than two decades, and a retired ranger says such illegal drivers tearing up public lands are a growing problem. “I just don’t think that site is going to recover," he said.

Mark HeinzJuly 10, 2026

Screenshot of video taken in late June in the Dayton Gulch Road area of the Bighorn Mountains, shows what is allegedly a grizzly bear.

Distant Video Of Bear In Bighorn Mountains Reignites Debate Over Grizzlies In Area

A Lovell man says he thinks a bear he spotted off Dayton Gulch Road in the Bighorn Mountains last week was a grizzly. Casey Jones took a quick video of the bear and said,"The hump between the shoulders, that’s what got me to thinking it’s a grizzly."

Mark HeinzJuly 10, 2026

Shonna Kaye Dehl of Lovell (foreground) and Maggie Bassett of Powell have camped in the Bighorn Mountains for years. Their camp was trashed by an aggressive black bear late July 5, 2026.

Aggressive Black Bear Drives Women From Bighorns Camp Before Shredding Tents

Two experienced Wyoming outdoorswomen said a large black bear aggressively entered their camp in the Bighorns late Sunday and turned it into "total chaos." When they returned the next day after escaping to a cabin, their camp was completely torn apart.

Mark HeinzJuly 08, 2026

Rich Guenzel, a retired Game and Fish biologist and pronghorn conservationist, made a “pronghorn swear jar” as a humorous way to correct people for calling the iconic Wyoming animals “antelope.”

Say 'Antelope' In Front Of Wyoming Pronghorn Activist, It'll Cost You $1

Conservationist Rich Guenzel understands why many people, including Wyoming Game and Fish, wrongly call one of the state's signature animals "antelope," but it's his pet peeve. It bugs him so much he has a “pronghorn swear jar” and makes people pay $1.

Mark HeinzJuly 06, 2026

Rancher Leah LaTray thinks her 8-year-old quarter horse mare was severely injured by a grizzly bear on her ranch near Lewistown, Montana. The horse is expected to survive.

Montana Rancher More Than 100 Miles From Rocky Mountains Says Grizzly Mauled Horse

A Montana rancher who lives more than 100 miles from grizzly territory says a bear mauled her quarter horse. Grizzlies aren't deliberately being reintroduced to prairie country. Instead, they’re moving back into those areas on their own.

Mark HeinzJuly 04, 2026

Mark Heinz celebrates America’s 250th anniversary by playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” on his Sthil 500i chainsaw.

The Tradition Continues: Mark Heinz Plays 'The Star Spangled Banner' On His Chainsaw

A Cowboy State Daily patriotic Independence Day tradition continues for the fourth straight year with outdoors writer Mark Heinz belting out “The Star Spangled Banner” on a chainsaw.

Mark HeinzJuly 03, 2026

Rancher Amanda Cerveney took video of two coyotes attacking one of her neighbor’s calves in Colorado this week. There’s also a pack of wolves in the area.

Rancher Says Wolves Making Colorado Coyotes More Aggressive With Livestock

Ranchers in northern Colorado wonder if the growing wolf population is causing coyotes to be more aggressive toward livestock. "In 30 years of doing this, I’ve never seen anything like that," a rancher said about two coyotes attacking healthy livestock.

Mark HeinzJuly 03, 2026

Washakie County Sheriff’s deputy Chris Hazen hoists a tranquilized female black bear Thursday in Worland. The bear was captured in a resident’s back yard.

Black Bear Leads Authorities On Two-Day Dumpster-Raiding Chase Through Worland

A female black bear evaded local law enforcement and wildlife authorities for two days as it ran in and around Worland. “She spent a couple of days running back and forth and was in every single dumpster,” said one local who observed the bear.

Mark HeinzJuly 03, 2026

Other Authors

A customer at Wyoming Tactical Firearms shoots an AR-15 rifle. The U.S. Supreme Court will consider overturing bans on such rifles in other states.

Wyoming Gun Dealers Eager For Supreme Court To Overturn ‘Assault Weapons’ Bans

A gun-friendly U.S. Supreme Court seems poised to overturn “assault weapon” bans in Connecticut and the Chicago area — and Wyoming gun dealers are all in favor. They say that could make it easier to sell to customers in Colorado and other states.

Mark HeinzJuly 01, 2026

Lake Powell Water Critically Low; Wyoming Expects More Demand On Flaming Gorge

Already at critically low levels, Lake Powell is close to being "dead pool," which means water won't flow downriver anymore. That has Wyoming cities and industries worried that will mean more demand for water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir.

Mark HeinzJuly 01, 2026

A rancher near Choteau, Montana caught video of six grizzlies strolling across his calving lot behind his barn late Monday, and said there were as many as seven bears on his property that night.

Holy Cow! Montana Rancher Spots 'Herd' Of 7 Grizzlies On Property

Montana rancher Neal Collins said a camera on his barn captured a "herd" of seven grizzlies on his property Monday night. The next morning, agents from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks hazed 10 grizzlies out of brush across the road from his place.

Mark HeinzJune 30, 2026

Gov. Mark Gordon has designated Wyoming’s famous “Path of the Pronghorn”, one of the longest land migration routes in North America, as protected. While conservationists hailed the move, an energy landman said he hopes it doesn’t impede drilling.

Wyoming's Famous ‘Path Of The Pronghorn’ Gets Protected Status — Mostly

Gov. Mark Gordon has designated Wyoming’s famous “Path of the Pronghorn,” one of the longest land migration routes in North America, as protected — mostly. While conservationists hailed the move, an energy landman said he hopes it doesn’t impede drilling.

Mark HeinzJune 30, 2026

black bear tries braking into a dumpster in Durango, Colorado. There have been 77 reported bear-related incidents in the area so far this summer, 39 involving trash. (

Human-Bear Conflicts Up Across West Could Signal More Attacks, Removals Coming

It has already been a busy year for human-bear conflicts in Wyoming, Montana and across the West, with people getting mauled and bears being euthanized or relocated. And it could get worse thanks to drought and other factors, some bear observers say.

Mark HeinzJune 30, 2026

Amid Denver's urban sprawl, Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance is rescuing a fast-growing number of injured animals, like this badger.

Urban Sprawl Is Flooding Wildlife Rehab Center With Eagles, Foxes and Coyotes

Amid Denver's urban sprawl, Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance is rescuing a fast-growing number of injured animals. The animal hospital has taken in 627 patients this year with roughly one-third having suffered injuries from vehicle collisions.

Mark HeinzJune 27, 2026

Wyoming Hunting: Larry Hicks Is King Of Trophy Antelope With 16 Record-Book Bucks

Larry Hicks of Baggs has bagged 16 record-book trophy antelope bucks, including 14 in Wyoming. “After 20 years of trying, I finally got to the point where I cracked the code for spotting record book antelope," Hicks said.

Mark HeinzJune 27, 2026

Many avid antelope hunters, like Guy Eastman of Cody, didn’t draw tags this year.

With Antelope Numbers Still Down, This Year’s Tag Draw Dismal For Many Hunters

Wyoming hunters who didn’t draw antelope tags this year aren't alone. “I don’t know anybody who drew a good antelope tag,” said prominent outdoorsman Guy Eastman. They blame the winter of 2022-2023, which devastated antelope populations.

Mark HeinzJune 27, 2026

Bison in Yellowstone National Park aren't usually aggressive, but can be dangerous if their space is violated.

12-Year-Old Visitor Hurt By Yellowstone Bison, Sent To Hospital

A 12-year-old was taken to an area hospital Friday after being hurt by a bison just north of Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone National Park. This is the first recorded bison attack in Yellowstone of the year.

Mark HeinzJune 26, 2026

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