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
Two Grizzlies Outside Of Yellowstone In Idaho Gunned Down By Hunters
More regional encounters between grizzlies and hunters ended badly for bears with two more shot and killed by archery hunters in Idaho outside of Yellowstone. Both cases were cleared as justified self-defense.
Mark HeinzOctober 04, 2023
Welcome To Wyoming: Gale-Force Winds, 50-Vehicle Pileup Greet New WHP Commander
Despite winter storm winds that rival hurricanes, there’s much to love about Wyoming, especially its people, said Col. Tim Cameron, who took over the Wyoming Highway Patrol in January.
Mark HeinzOctober 04, 2023
After Mauling Deaths In Canada, Bear Experts Warn Against Taking Dogs Into Grizzly Country
The mauling deaths of a couple and their dog by a grizzly in Canada last week have bear experts warning about the dangers of taking dogs into grizzly country. Unless dogs are specifically trained to deal with bears, it's best to leave them at home.
Mark HeinzOctober 03, 2023
Hunting Wyoming: Albany County Waits For Cooler Temps To Heat Up Hunting
Outdoors writer Mark Heinz is doing a series on hunting in all 23 counties in Wyoming. For Albany County, Mark says its great territory for all three big game species — elk, deer and pronghorn. But it takes cooler temperatures to push game out of the high country.
Mark HeinzOctober 03, 2023
Hunting Wyoming: Fremont County Great For Elk, If You’re Willing To Work For It
Outdoors writer Mark Heinz is doing a series on hunting in all 23 counties in Wyoming. For Fremont County, Mark says up in the Wind River Mountains and other high country in Fremont County, elk are thriving but it takes a lot of work to get there.
Mark HeinzSeptember 30, 2023
Bad Year For Montana Grizzly Bears Continues As Yet Another Is Shot
In what is turning out to be a wild year for grizzlies in Montana, yet another bear has been shot and killed by a hunter, apparently in self-defense.
Mark HeinzSeptember 29, 2023
Government Shutdown Could Force Closures Of Yellowstone, Teton Parks
With a federal government shutdown looming, Yellowstone and Teton national parks could be all but shuttered starting Monday, but there are also work-arounds, a retired high-ranking Interior Department official said.
Mark HeinzSeptember 29, 2023
Three-Way Wyoming Bull Moose Standoff A Warm-Up To Full Mating Season
Three bull moose having a shoving match in the Snowy Range Mountains earlier this month signaled the onset of the rut, or mating season. The clashes are likely to get much more violent as the rut goes on.
Mark HeinzSeptember 29, 2023
Bear Expert Says Sleeping On Ground In Grizzly Country Safer Than A Campground
A grizzly expert told Cowboy State Daily that sleeping on the ground in grizzly country is much safer than sleeping in a campground or on the drive to get to grizzly country. He said the danger of bears is "greatly exaggerated."
Mark HeinzSeptember 29, 2023
Congress Follows Wyoming’s Lead, Passes Measure To Protect Hunter Education Programs
In a move that matches Wyoming’s lead, Congress has overwhelmingly passed a measure to protect funding for school hunter education and archery programs. Earlier, the Biden administration tried to cut funding for the programs.
Mark HeinzSeptember 29, 2023
Grizzly 399 And Her Huge Cub In Good Shape Going Into Winter
Wyoming’s beloved grizzly 399 and her huge cub Spirit are in good shape and getting ready for hibernation, likely feasting on hunters’ elk gut piles.
Mark HeinzSeptember 28, 2023
$10 Million Wyoming Shooting Complex Must Be World-Class, Industry Insiders Say
Industry experts said Wednesday that the success of a proposed $10 million Wyoming shooting complex will hinge upon giving firearms and archery enthusiasts what they want and building a world-class facility.
Mark HeinzSeptember 27, 2023
Controversial BLM Plan Does Nothing For Wyoming Mustangs, Advocate Says
Wyoming’s thousands of mustangs are ignored by the Bureau of Land Management’s draft plans for the millions of acres it manages in central Wyoming, a wild horse conservationist said Tuesday.
Mark HeinzSeptember 26, 2023
People Are On the Lookout For This Yellowstone ‘Moose’ That’s Actually A Tree
A tree in Yellowstone National Park’s Lamar Valley looks just like a moose head when seen from the right angle, something experienced Wyoming photographers say they're on the lookout for.
Mark HeinzSeptember 26, 2023
Terrified Woman Says Grizzly Was So Close ‘I Could Feel Its Heartbeat’
A Montana woman who lives in what is now prairie grizzly country in Montana said a grizzly got so close to her tent while camping she “could feel its heartbeat.”
Mark HeinzSeptember 25, 2023
BLM Says It's Misunderstood, Claims No Plans To Lock Public Out Of 1.8 Million Acres
Despite widespread condemnation in Wyoming, the BLM claims much of the criticism leveled at controversial Resource Management Plan is rooted in misinformation or hyperbole.
Mark HeinzSeptember 25, 2023
Wyoming Hunting: Dad’s Trophy Bull Elk Another First For Cody Father-Son Hunting Team
Father-and-son Ed and Dalton of Cody have been hunting together since Dalton was old enough to tag along. And Ed has always let Dalton shoot first. This year, the tables were turned and Ed bagged his first archery bull elk.
Mark HeinzSeptember 24, 2023
Hunting Wyoming: Teton County Has Great Outlook – Just Watch For Grizzlies
Teton County offers a variety of hunting opportunities and great access to public land, but hunters need to be keenly “bear aware” around the area’s robust grizzly population.
Mark HeinzSeptember 24, 2023
Former Navy Seal Offers Grizzly Survival Course For Wyoming Hunters
A former Navy SEAL offers a two-day grizzly survival training course that helps prepare hunters for trekking into grizzly country. His course incorporates the same principle of “forging" under stress that is used in Navy SEAL military training.
Mark HeinzSeptember 23, 2023
As Deadline Nears, Colorado Still Doesn’t Have Wolves For Reintroduction Plan
With an end-of-year deadline closing in, Colorado can't get any wolves for its planned reintroduction plan. Wyoming, and other Western states, have refused to send any.
Mark HeinzSeptember 22, 2023
Hunting Wyoming: Come For the Big Game, Stay For The Birds In Natrona County
Natrona County, Wyoming, is known for its prized antelope herds, but prospects may be down this year. Those hunting for big game should also be on the lookout for sage grouse, partridge and waterfowl.
Mark HeinzSeptember 21, 2023