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

Sadie Swartzfager, 14, of Pennsylvania – in the orange hat – joined family and friends in celebrating getting her first elk in Wyoming.

Dying Pennsylvania Man’s Wish Was A Wyoming Elk And Deer Hunt For His Daughter

Dying from cancer, one of a Pennsylvania man’s last wishes was a first Wyoming elk and deer hunt for his 14-year-old daughter. Thanks to a Gillette-area Airbnb owner and outfitter, they got that dream hunt.

Mark HeinzSeptember 15, 2024

Hoback is a moose that lives in Grand Teton National Park, and his fans say he’s the biggest bull moose in the park. He’s pictured here shedding the “velvet” (a natural growth membrane) from his antlers.

Videographer Catches Hoback, Teton Park’s Famously Huge Moose, Shedding Velvet

It took her six years, but a West Yellowstone photographer finally captured video of Hoback the moose shedding his antler velvet. Hoback is well-known, among wildlife photographers, as one of the largest bull moose in Grand Teton National Park.

Mark HeinzSeptember 14, 2024

Left: At just 13 years old, Russell Goolsbey of Powell did what many seasoned hunters only dream of, shooting a mountain goat in northwest Wyoming’s backcountry. Right: At just 12 years old, Rhett Goolsbey did what many seasoned hunters only dream of, shooting a bighorn ram in northwest Wyoming’s backcountry.

Draws Of A Lifetime: Powell Boys Get Sheep, Mountain Goat Tags On 1st, 2nd Tries

Some Wyoming hunters try for decades to draw hunting tags for bighorn sheep or mountain goats and still don’t get one. A pair of Powell farm boy had draws of a lifetime, each getting one — one on his first try and the other his second.

Mark HeinzSeptember 13, 2024

Wyoming Delegation Will Not Support Snowmobiles Aren’t Weapons Act

Wyoming’s congressional delegation on Thursday said they do not support a bill that would prohibit killing wolves with snowmobiles. Further, they said states that don’t have snowmobiling should say out of the West’s business.

Mark HeinzSeptember 12, 2024

One-year-old Lainey Seely was napping in a kiddie pack on the back of her dad, Ryder Seely, as he stalked to within bowshot range of this impressive southeast Wyoming buck.

Wyoming Bowhunter Bags Big Buck With Napping Toddler On His Back

Wheatland bowhunter Ryder Seely stalked and shot a big mule deer buck Wednesday. He couldn't find a babysitter when the daycare was unexpectedly closed, so he did it with his sleeping 1-year-old daughter on his back.

Mark HeinzSeptember 12, 2024

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

Activists Push For National Ban On Running Down Wolves With Snowmobiles

In a case of a hot-button issue making strange political bedfellows, conservative firebrand Mat Gaetz is joining Democrats to push a national ban on running wolves and other predators down with snowmobiles.

Mark HeinzSeptember 11, 2024

Joshua Tamirat Wielhouwer, 20, of Michigan, allegedly shot and killed nine deer in Cody with a bow and left the carcasses.

Locals Outraged Over “Despicable” Slaughter Of 9 Urban Deer In Cody

Cody residents are outraged over the “despicable” slaughter of nine urban deer in the city. A 20-year-old Michigan man remains in jail, accused of killing the deer with a bow and leaving their carcasses around Cody.

Mark HeinzSeptember 11, 2024

A pair of deer walk through the city of Cody, Wyoming. A man is facing 18 charges for allegedly killing nine deer from an urban herd of deer in the city and leaving their carcasses around town.

Man Charged With Killing Nine Deer, Leaving Their Carcasses Around Cody

A man is facing 18 wildlife-related charges after an alleged archery killing spree that left nine dead mule deer carcasses scattered around Cody, Wyoming.

Mark HeinzSeptember 10, 2024

One of 10 wolves reintroduced to northern Colorado in December 2023.

Is Colorado’s Only Hope For Saving Disastrous Wolf Program To Follow Wyoming?

Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program has so far been a disaster. Some observers believe its only hope is to follow Wyoming’s lead and put wolves in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Mark HeinzSeptember 10, 2024

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

Colorado Will Re-Release Four Wolves From Pack Trapped For Killing Livestock

At least four of a pack of six Colorado wolves that was trapped for killing cattle will be re-released, wildlife officials say Monday. It’s not clear how close they’ll be to the Wyoming state line.

Mark HeinzSeptember 10, 2024

Amber Travsky tries her hand at a primitive weapon called an atlatl at the Wyoming Archeology Fair in Larmie on Saturday.

Wyomingites Did Not Fare Well At Event Teaching Them How To Hunt With Stick And Dart

Wyomingites on Saturday learned just how difficult it was to hunt mammoths 12,000 years ago when they tried their hands at an ancient weapon known as an "atlatl." Basically, it’s a stick and a dart. Participants said they felt humbled by their performance and would have likely starved.

Mark HeinzSeptember 09, 2024

Waterfowl numbers in Canada breeding grounds are the highest they’ve been in nearly a decade – but only nasty winter weather will drive those ducks and geese south, where Wyoming hunters will have a crack at them.

Wyoming Hunting Forecast: Lots Of Ducks, But They Have To Come South

Good news for bird hunters: wildlife experts are forecasting a banner year for both duck and geese hunters. For the first time in 10 years, the number of breeding ducks is up significantly. The best hunting will be later in the season, they say.

Mark HeinzSeptember 09, 2024

Other Authors

Though they’re frequently spotted alone, most coyotes are members of a mated pair, and frequently an entire pack.

‘Lone Coyote’ Belief In Wyoming Is A Myth — They Form Packs, Much Like Wolves

The idea that coyotes are loners is easy to believe because they’re usually seen alone, but that’s actually a myth, wildlife biologists say. They form packs and family units, much like wolves.

Mark HeinzSeptember 07, 2024

Cody resident David Ball was hunting in Namibia, Africa last week, when a deadly black mamba snake appeared in camp. He shot and killed the snake, which measured out to 7 feet, 4 inches long.

Wyoming Hunters Faced Killer Black Mambas While On Safari Last Week In Africa

Wyoming hunters know bears are some of the most feared and deadly predators you can run into. Dealing with black mambas can be just as deadly, if not more so. Two hunters from Cody dealt with them last week while on a safari in Africa.

Mark HeinzSeptember 06, 2024

Dave Ratzlaff, owner of a 1969 Chevrolet Camero, talks about his car with WyoTech student David Solis at the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association car show on the WyoTech campus in Laramie on Thursday.

Custom Car Nuts Show WyoTech Students Hot-Rodding Isn’t Just An ‘Old Man Hobby’

WyoTech students got to ogle custom-built rides during an exclusive car show Thursday. It was an effective pitch that building hotrods isn’t just an “old man hobby.”

Mark HeinzSeptember 05, 2024

People who showed up to the Treatment of Predators Working Group meeting at the Wyoming Capitol on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, found that the group was meeting via Zoom and they couldn't comment.

Proposed Law Says Running Over Wolf With Snowmobile OK But Only If You Kill It

A new proposed law would allow people to be charged with animal cruelty if they run animals down with snowmobiles and don't kill them immediately. A state predator working group on Wednesday voted to advance the bill to a legislative committee.

Mark HeinzSeptember 04, 2024

Wyoming Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik plans to retire on Sept. 11. He’s worked for the agency since 1995 in a variety of roles, including as a game warden, regional wildlife supervisor and chief game warden.

Brian Nesvik Led Game And Fish Career Through COVID, Daniel Wolf Controversy

Over nearly 30 years, Brian Nesvik worked his way up through the ranks of Wyoming Game and Fish from applying for a temp job to agency director. The last years of that have been trying times with COVID and the Daniel wolf controversy.

Mark HeinzSeptember 04, 2024

The antlers on this bull moose in the Bighorn Mountains still have some growing to do, but his body is already super-sized.

Absolute Tank Of A Moose Turning Heads In Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains

Sheridan outdoorswoman Danielle Laumann’s photos of an absolute tank of a young bull moose is turning heads. She said the freakishly huge moose has been hanging out with a couple of other moose.

Mark HeinzSeptember 03, 2024

Idaho Archery Hunters Kill Attacking Grizzly Near Yellowstone

A grizzly attacked two archery hunters In Idaho near Yellowstone National Park on Sunday. One of the men was hurt before they killed the bear with their handguns.

Mark HeinzSeptember 03, 2024

Pack Of Rogue Coyotes Stalks Rural Neighborhood Near Douglas

The bizarre behavior of a marauding quartet of coyotes has prompted a rural Douglas-area resident to put out a warning to her neighbors, and a call for hunters or trappers to come deal with the bothersome beasts.

Mark HeinzSeptember 02, 2024

A pair of Washington state game wardens wear body cameras, which all of the state's game wardens will be required to wear starting next month.

Washington State Game Wardens Will Wear Mandatory Body Cams

Starting next month, game wardens in Washington state must wear body cameras. Some retired game wardens in Wyoming said they understand why, but aren’t fans of the mandate. The Wyoming Game and Fish department wouldn't say if they are considering it.

Mark HeinzSeptember 01, 2024

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