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

Chuck Gray Says As A Gun-Free Zone, Wyoming Capitol A “Soft Target”

As a gun-free zone, the Wyoming Capitol and adjacent government buildings are “soft targets,” Secretary of State Chuck Gray said Thursday. He testified for a legislative committee in favor of repealing Wyoming’s gun-free zones.

Mark HeinzSeptember 20, 2024

A female grizzly with three cubs showed up early Tuesday and again early Wednesday in the camp of bowhunter Bruce Cooper in the Wyoming Range – and these photos were captured on his security camera. He decided not to go back Thursday “because of safety concerns.”

For Grizzly Defense Handguns, Hunters Prefers Magnum Revolvers Or 10 mm Pistols

Opinions vary on what’s the best handgun to carry for grizzly defense in Wyoming. Magnum-caliber revolvers and 10 mm semiautomatic pistols seem to be the most popular with hunters.

Mark HeinzSeptember 19, 2024

A pair of white-tailed deer graze on sagebrush in this file photo.

Hunters Can Go After White-Tailed Deer On Elk Refuge Near Jackson

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department wants hunters to shoot more white-tailed deer in the Jackson area. That’s where whitetails compete with coveted mule deer herds.

Mark HeinzSeptember 19, 2024

Chris Clemmens of Georgia has already been on one Wyoming elk hunt – through a program that allows Wyoming residents to donate their tags to disabled veterans. He can’t wait to come out again this year.

Purple Heart Army Vet Thrilled To Get Coveted Wyoming Elk Hunt

Chris Clemmens of Georgia is a decorated Army combat veteran who loves Wyoming. He's thrilled about an upcoming elk hunt here through a program that donates hunting tags to veterans.

Mark HeinzSeptember 18, 2024

Though he was struck by a car and severely injured a couple of years ago, a mule deer buck in Rock Springs that people call Steve the Survivor still loves hanging out with other deer and eating crabapples.

Rock Springs Loves Steve, A Mule Deer With Gnarled Antlers And Missing A Hoof

There’s a reason folks in Rock Springs, Wyoming, love a resident deer they call Steve the Survivor. With gnarled antlers and missing a hoof, Steve is “a symbol of perseverance,” says one local fan.

Mark HeinzSeptember 17, 2024

Rocky Mountain Grizzlies Keep Getting Shot By Bowhunters With Handguns

So far this archery hunting season, three grizzly bears have been shot — and two killed — by bowhunters wielding handguns in self-defense. Wildlife observers and hunters believe conflicts will escalate because of the popularity of bowhunting and the increasing numbers of bears.

Mark HeinzSeptember 17, 2024

With $2.7 Million In Donations, $28 Million Wildlife Crossing Near Dubois Closer To Reality

A much-anticipated wildlife crossing near Dubois is closer to reality now than $2.7 million has been raised in private donations. Hundreds of mule deer are killed each year on U.S. Highway 26. Construction on the $28 million project will begin in 2027.

Mark HeinzSeptember 17, 2024

Every year when a huge elk herd returns to Estes Park, Colorado, they make it their town.

It’s A Wonder More People Don’t Get Stomped By Estes Park’s Urban Elk

Estes Park, Colorado, is essentially an urban elk preserve. Locals love the huge herd of elk that takes over the town a couple times a year, but resent tourists acting like idiots and getting too close.

Mark HeinzSeptember 16, 2024

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

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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

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

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