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
Monster Mule Deer Could Obliterate Record For Wyoming’s Biggest Buck Ever
Wyoming hunters are buzzing over photos and videos of a monster mule deer buck, thought to be near Bondurant. Outdoorsman say it could shatter the record for Wyoming’s biggest buck. “He’s knocking on the door of 300 inches,” one hunter said of its rack.
Mark HeinzSeptember 04, 2026
Rare Adult White-Collar Grizzly Bear Seen Roaming In The South Fork Near Cody
A large adult grizzly bear with a white collar "tuxedo" was spotted on a ranch in the South Fork area outside of Cody. Cubs commonly have white fur around the neck and upper chest, but the marking is exceedingly rare in adult grizzlies.
Mark HeinzSeptember 04, 2026
As Hunters Dozed On I-80, Thief Swiped Suitcase And Coffee — But Left Pricey Gear
While two hunters snoozed in the cab of their pickup in the wee hours Tuesday along I-80, a thief swiped a suitcase and hand-roasted coffee from Belize from the bed — but left expensive hunting gear, a chainsaw, and camera inside a backpack.
Mark HeinzSeptember 03, 2026
Rancher Who Took Elk Head From Helicopter Hunters Says He Received Death Threats
A Johnson County rancher who tried to steal an elk head and antlers from hunters who helicoptered onto public land adjacent to his property last year says he was harassed and received death threats following the incident. He said he later apologized.
Mark HeinzSeptember 02, 2026
Big Piney Hunter Vows To Kill Matriarch Of Famed Mollie's Wolf Pack In Two Weeks
With two weeks to go before the wolf hunting season begins near Yellowstone, a Big Piney hunter is vowing to shoot 12-year-old Wolf 1090F from the famed Mollie's Wolf Pack if he sees her. In the meantime, wolf activists are trying their best to stop the hunt.
Mark HeinzSeptember 01, 2026
Photographer Mangelsen Makes Wildlife Sleeves To Cover Trump's Face On Park Pass
Jackson wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen said he is sick of "Trump's narcissism" so he designed plastic sleeves with his wildlife images to cover the president's face on national park passes. The former BLM chief under Trump says it makes no sense.
Mark HeinzSeptember 01, 2026
Watch Where You Walk In Sinks Canyon, Which Is Loaded With Prairie Rattlesnakes
Though visitors might not realize it, Sinks Canyon State Park near Lander is prairie rattlesnake central. That's because it’s an ideal habitat with plenty of nooks and crannies for them to get below the frostline when they go dormant during the winter.
Mark HeinzAugust 30, 2026
Hunting Wyoming: 'Girls Only' Elk Hunt Ends With Filled Tags, Long Pack-Out In Dark
A pair of Wisconsin women had a successful "Girls Only" Wyoming elk hunt that included a miles-long pack-out of the meat through the forest in the dark. They said they hope their experience high in Wyoming's Snowy Range inspires other hunters.
Mark HeinzAugust 30, 2026
Dubois Hunter Goes All-Out 70s With Macho Disco 'Stache In Grandfather’s Honor
Taught to hunt by his grandfather, Dubois hunter Cade Cole went after elk in a vintage “Wyoming uniform” — flannel, denim and down vest — to honor him. He also and grew a macho 1970s mustache and left modern tech behind.
Mark HeinzAugust 29, 2026
Yellowstone Black Bear Beats Grizzlies By Scaling Whitebark Pine For Nuts
Grizzlies usually have first dibs on food sources but every once in a while, a black bear has an advantage as they are much better climbers. On Thursday, a black bear scaled to the top of a whitebark pine tree and gorged on its cones. Grizzlies have to wait.
Mark HeinzAugust 28, 2026
Wombat Snatcher Gets Probation For Hunting In Wyoming Wilderness Without Guide
The former Pinedale-area woman who set off a firestorm in Australia for snatching a baby wombat from its mother has received probation for hunting in a Wyoming wilderness without a guide. Samantha Strable was sentenced Thursday in Sublette County Circuit Court
Mark HeinzAugust 28, 2026
Hunter In Helicopter Whose Elk Head Was Stolen By Rancher Busted For Trespassing
An elk hunter who helicoptered into a section of public land surrounded by private land in Johnson County, and later accused the rancher of trying to swipe an elk head from his party, was cited for trespassing after shooting a bull elk on private land.
Mark HeinzAugust 27, 2026
Grizzly 399 Descendants Get Reprieve As Orphaned Cubs Go To Colorado Zoo
Two descendants of Grand Teton's famed Grizzly 399 were sent to a zoo in Colorado Springs after their mother was killed in Montana for cattle predation. Cubs typically are euthanized if no zoo has availability because they won't survive alone in the wild.
Mark HeinzAugust 26, 2026
"It's Like His Dog!": Wolf Keeps Following Tourist Even After Two Bear Spray Blasts
A tourist from Texas said he was spooked when a wolf trailed him for more than 10 minutes in Yellowstone even after he blasted it with bear spray two times. "It's like it's his dog! Dude, he's got to be scared," said another tourist who filmed the event.
Mark HeinzAugust 25, 2026
At Monday Press Conference, Game And Fish Refuses To Discuss Director's Departure
Wyoming Game and Fish’s interim leadership team declined to address former director Angi Bruce's abrupt Aug. 6 departure during a press conference Monday. "I will not be addressing the transition that occurred a few weeks ago," the interim director said.
Mark HeinzAugust 25, 2026
Coloradans Call For Bear Baiting And Hounds To Deal With Unprecedented Bear Conflicts
Some Colorado residents want the state to allow using bait and hounds again to hunt black bears due to a substantial rise in conflicts. Colorado's sightings and conflicts have doubled to more than 6,000 this year, including six attacks on humans.
Mark HeinzAugust 24, 2026
Bears’ Fall Feeding Frenzies Can Get Them Into The Strangest Places — And Trouble
When bears go into a fall feeding frenzy to fatten up for winter, they can end up in odd places. One died in a car in Colorado Springs, Game and Fish once baited a grizzly with M&M’s candy, and a black bear roamed the halls of a Montana high school.
Mark HeinzAugust 24, 2026
Wyoming Hunters Are Already Filling Their Freezers With Early Season Cow Elk
With Type 8 tags, Wyoming hunters can go after cow elk as early as August — despite the heat — in places where numbers have swollen well over Wyoming Game and Fish objectives. Hunters say access to private land is the key to success.
Mark HeinzAugust 21, 2026
After Director Quits, People Asking What’s Up With Wyoming Game And Fish?
As fall hunting season nears, Wyoming Game and Fish is facing public scrutiny after the sudden resignation of Director Angi Bruce and the appointment of an interim director. In a rare move, Game and Fish will give a state of the agency update Monday.
Mark HeinzAugust 21, 2026
Mustang Advocates Say Report Proves Wild Horses From Wyoming Sent To Slaughter
Mustang advocates say a New York Times report proves horses rounded up from the range in Wyoming and other states have been sent to slaughter. An advocacy group is now asking Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to shut down all sales of wild horses.
Mark HeinzAugust 20, 2026
The Impact Of Trump's Expansion Of Hunting, Fishing On Wildlife Refuges In Wyoming
Three of Wyoming's national wildlife refuges will see modest changes from the new plan to open 92 million acres to hunting and fishing. It's touted as the "largest expansion of hunting and sport fishing in the history of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service."
Mark HeinzAugust 20, 2026