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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.

Find Mark Heinz

Latest from Mark Heinz

Migrating snow geese in North Dakota getty 9 28 25

Wyoming Duck And Goose Seasons Open, But Still Too Warm To Bring Many Birds

The weather isn’t cooperating as Wyoming duck and goose seasons opens this weekend. It’s still too warm to bring many birds south, but that should change soon. Storms and cooler weather will draw more birds to the state.

Mark HeinzSeptember 28, 2025

Four years ago, Gillette elk hunter Terrance Monger spotted a gigantic bull elk in a public land hunting area. After hunting for it every season since, he bagged the behemoth Sept. 18.

After Four Years Of Trying, Gillette Hunter Bags Gigantic Bull Elk On Public Land

Four years ago, Gillette elk hunter Terrance Monger spotted a gigantic bull elk in a public land hunting area in northeastern Wyoming. After hunting for it every season since, he finally bagged the behemoth Sept. 18.

Mark HeinzSeptember 28, 2025

Experienced hunters say that a willingness to hike long distances is one of the keys to success when hunting on crowded public land.

Wyoming Hunters Avoid Mobs By Hiking Deep Into The Wild

With Wyoming’s public hunting areas getting more crowded, it's possible to avoid the hordes of hunters by going in early and hiking far to escape the mobs. “If it looks like a sh*thole and it's hard to get into, there’s going to be elk,” one hunter said.

Mark HeinzSeptember 27, 2025

Brian Wolslegel of Wisconsin has been a taxidermist for 32 years, specializing in robotic decoys used by game agencies in numerous states, including Wyoming.

Taxidermist’s Robot Decoys Are So Life-Like They Turn, Twitch And Even Poop

The future of wildlife decoys is here, and a Wisconsin taxidermist is making some of the most realistic. They're so lifelike their tails wag, ears twitch, and mimic body heat. He even once made a robot deer for a customer that pooped M&Ms.

Mark HeinzSeptember 27, 2025

A squirrel in California’s San Fransico Bay area has gone rouge, attacking at least five people, sending two to the emergency room. Wyoming biologists say squirrels may look cute but can be meaner than people realize. Isabel Campoy suffered severe scratches to her arm.

‘Attack Squirrel’ Terrorizes California Neighborhood, Sending Two To Hospital

A squirrel in California’s San Francisco Bay area has gone rogue, attacking at least five people, sending two to the emergency room. Wyoming biologists say squirrels may look cute, but can be meaner than people realize.

Mark HeinzSeptember 26, 2025

With threats of another government shutdown looming, Wyoming Republicans say Democrats will be to blame if Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks are closed. A veteran tour guide says it won’t squash a big season for tourism in the parks.

Tour Guide Says Fed Shutdown Won't Squash Tourism In Yellowstone, Grand Teton

With threats of another government shutdown looming, Wyoming Republicans say Democrats will be to blame if Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks are closed. A veteran tour guide says it won’t squash a big season for tourism in the parks.

Mark HeinzSeptember 26, 2025

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has set up dumpsters in several locations in the Sheridan-Buffalo area, where hunters can dump big game carcasses.

Carcass Dumpsters Keep Landscape From Being Littered With Rotting Animal Parts

Wyoming Game and Fish has set up carcass dumpsters for hunters to dispose of their kills after dressing them out. The hope is to keep the landscape from being littered with rotting animal parts.

Mark HeinzSeptember 25, 2025

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

Colorado Wolf Debate Heats Up Over Claims Diseased Animals Were Released

Critics of Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program claim that wolves transplanted from Oregon were infected with a parasitic disease. Wildlife officials say they treated the wolves for the disease before releasing them.

Mark HeinzSeptember 24, 2025

Fans of Wolf 1479F described the young female as a curious and active member of the Junction Butte Pack in Yellowstone National Park. She reportedly left the park and was legally killed by a hunter in Montana this month.

Fans Mourn Popular Yellowstone Wolf Killed By Montana Hunter

Fans are mourning the loss of another popular Yellowstone wolf, 1479F, a young female that was killed legally by a hunter in Montana last week. She also was an offspring of the legendary Wolf 907F.

Mark HeinzSeptember 23, 2025

The bodies of two elk hunters — Andrew Porter of Asheville, North Carolina, and Ian Stasko of Salt Lake City, Utah — who went missing in southern Colorado on Sept. 11 were found Thursday. Some Wyoming hunters say it’s a grim reminder of the dangers weather and other backcountry hazards pose.

Coroner: Lightning Strike Killed Elk Hunters Found Dead In Colorado

The coroner in Conejos County, Colorado, confirmed on Monday that a lightning strike killed two elk hunters who went missing Sept. 11 and were found dead on Thursday.

Mark HeinzSeptember 22, 2025

Florida black bear getty 9 21 25

To Save Bears From Florida Hunts, Activists Are Buying Up Bear Tags

As Florida legalizes bear hunting for the first time in a decade, wildlife activists are buying bear tags to keep them from hunters. Famed wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen did the same thing in Wyoming when grizzly tags were briefly available in 2018.

Mark HeinzSeptember 21, 2025

Grizzly 610, born in 2006, is the most famous offspring of Wyoming’s beloved Grizzly 399. However, it’s doubtful she will ever reach her mother’s level of fame.

Nearly 20-Years-Old Now, Grizzly 610 Is The Heir Apparent To Her Mom, Grizzly 399

Grizzly 610 has done some amazing things by the standards of her species, living nearly 20 years and raising 11 cubs so far. But it's unlikely she’ll ever match the popularity of her mother, Grizzly 399. New rules are making 'roadside grizzlies' a thing of the past.

Mark HeinzSeptember 20, 2025

Other Authors

Trout, — particularly Wyoming's prized cutthroat trout — like cold water. That means there’s concern over what increasing water temperatures could mean for the future of Wyoming’s angling. The Snake River in Teton County is a prime spot to fish for cutthroats.

New Study Says Rising Water Temps Put Wyoming Cutthroat Trout Fishing In Doubt

Wyoming’s trout fishing, especially for cutthroats, draws people from all over the world. Cutthroats need cold water, so there’s concern about a new UW study that says rising water temperatures could negatively impact the species.

Mark HeinzSeptember 19, 2025

The bodies of two elk hunters — Andrew Porter of Asheville, North Carolina, and Ian Stasko of Salt Lake City, Utah — who went missing in southern Colorado on Sept. 11 were found Thursday. Some Wyoming hunters say it’s a grim reminder of the dangers weather and other backcountry hazards pose.

As Officials Probe Deaths Of 2 Men In Colorado, Wyoming Hunters Say Weather Is Top Risk

The bodies of two elk hunters who went missing in southern Colorado on Sept. 11 were found Thursday. Wyoming hunters say it’s a grim reminder of the dangers weather and other backcountry hazards pose.

Mark HeinzSeptember 19, 2025

After clawing at an occupied yurt last week in a remote part of Park County, a grizzly bear came back the next night and tore apart the then-unoccupied structure.

Grizzly Claws At Yurt With People Inside, Comes Back Next Night

A grizzly clawed at a yurt in the Crandall area of Park County with people inside last week. The bear then came back the next night and really tore it up, but it was then unoccupied.

Mark HeinzSeptember 18, 2025

A federal judge’s ruling Wednesday shut down cattle grazing in grizzly habitat in Montana’s Paradise Valley. A Montana rancher said he wants grizzlies to be “managed, not exterminated.”

Federal Judge Halts Cattle Grazing In Grizzly Habitat Near Yellowstone

A federal judge’s ruling Wednesday shut down cattle grazing in grizzly habitat in Montana’s Paradise Valley. A Montana rancher said he wants grizzlies to be “managed, not exterminated.”

Mark HeinzSeptember 17, 2025

Officials representing Wyoming and other Upper Colorado River Basin states say they’re alarmed about the continued fragile condition of the river. Lower states can’t hog water and leave the upper ones without their fair share.

Wyoming, Other Upper Colorado River States, Say Lower Basin States Hog Water

Officials representing Wyoming and other Upper Colorado River Basin states say they’re alarmed about the continued fragile condition of the river. Lower states can’t hog water and leave the upper ones without their fair share.

Mark HeinzSeptember 17, 2025

A mountain lion killed an antelope buck and stashed its carcass near the Thermopolis Golf Course, creating a macabre surprise for the person who discovered it. Wyoming Game and Fish later trapped and relocated a “subadult” mountain lion.

Mountain Lion That Stashed Antelope Carcass Near Thermopolis Golf Course Relocated

A mountain lion killed an antelope buck and stashed its carcass near the Thermopolis Golf Course, creating a macabre surprise for the person who discovered it. Wyoming Game and Fish later trapped and relocated a “subadult” mountain lion.

Mark HeinzSeptember 16, 2025

Ultramarathon trail runners in Alberta, Canada, had to be re-routed late Sunday after a grizzly charged and followed nearby campers. A Wyoming ultramarathoner says racers should carry bear spray in grizzly country.

Grizzly Disrupts Alberta Ultramarathon, Wyoming Runner Urges Always Carry Bear Spray

Ultramarathon trail runners in Alberta, Canada, had to be re-routed late Sunday after a grizzly charged and followed nearby campers. A Wyoming ultramarathoner said racers should always carry bear spray in grizzly country.

Mark HeinzSeptember 16, 2025

Outdoors enthusiasts say repealing the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule could undermine efforts to protect Wyoming’s wildlife and habitat. The state’s congressional delegation says the rule hamstrung critical economic uses for the lands.

Repealing BLM Public Lands Rule Could Undermine Wildlife Efforts, Advocates Say

Outdoors enthusiasts say repealing the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule could undermine efforts to protect Wyoming’s wildlife and habitat. The state’s congressional delegation says the rule hamstrung critical economic uses for the lands.

Mark HeinzSeptember 15, 2025

Prominent hunting influencer Ryan Lampers has been slapped with wildlife crime-related charges. He’s accused of illegally taking a trophy-class mule deer buck, and has sparked an ethics debate in the Wyoming outdoors community, and beyond.

‘Hunting Influencer’ Hit With Felony Charges, Raises Questions About Social Media & Hunting

A prominent "hunting influencer" was slapped with wildlife crime-related felony charges. Some Wyoming hunters with social media followings say it’s important to stay humble and keep the focus on love for the outdoors, rather than one-upmanship for clicks.

Mark HeinzSeptember 14, 2025

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