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
Biteman Says He’d Feel Safer Packing Heat In Capitol, Votes To Eliminate Concealed Carry Bans
When a woman began acting in a hostile manner in the gallery of the Senate on Thursday, Sen. Bo Biteman said, The person looked very agitated and not right. I was thinking, I wish I had my gun. I should be able to protect myself."
Mark HeinzFebruary 03, 2023
After Son’s Near-Miss, Snowmobiler Warns Of Avalanche Danger In Wyoming’s Snowy Range
A Minnesota snowmobiler who has been coming to the Snowy Range since 1994 said his son had a very close call with an avalanche, and warned that conditions in Wyoming are ripe for more.
Mark HeinzFebruary 02, 2023
Colorado River Fight Between Arizona & California Could Have Repercussions for Wyoming
Californias refusal to sign a key agreement means seven states, including Wyoming, have missed a self-appointed deadline to decide how to manage an ongoing crisis with the Colorado River.
Mark HeinzFebruary 02, 2023
Dog-Gone It! Varmint Blasting Enthusiasts Say It’s Getting Tougher To Blast Prairie Dogs In Wyoming
Blasting prairie dogs is a popular activity in Wyoming, but some enthusiasts say finding good shooting spots on public land is getting tougher. One North Carolina man is putting out a call on social media to see if any Wyoming ranchers want him to come and rid their land of the rodents.
Mark HeinzFebruary 01, 2023
Bears Are Still King, Even Though A Grizzly Lost A Fight To A Pack Of Wolves In Yellowstone
When grizzlies and wolves clash, the bears usually come out on top, even though wolves prevailed in one recent brawl in Yellowstone National Park.
Mark HeinzFebruary 01, 2023
Wyoming Sheep Rancher Says Wolves Decimated Family Business, Pushes For Compensation
A sixth-generation Wyoming sheep rancher told state legislators that wolves have all but ruined her family's 6th-generation sheep ranching business. She said they used to run 14,000 ewes but now they only have 740 ewes.
Mark HeinzJanuary 31, 2023
Outdoor Gear Businessman Says His Wyoming “I Hate People” Decal Is One Of His Bestsellers
Dont get Craig Bell wrong, just because one of the most popular products with his Wyoming customers is a vinyl decal proclaiming I Hate People, that doesnt mean he actually hates people. Except when he sees a trailhead full of cars...
Mark HeinzJanuary 31, 2023
Snowmobiler’s Paradise: Storm Dumps Seven Feet Of Snow Over Weekend At Snowy Range
Snowmobilers reported anywhere from four to seven feet of new snow at Snowy Range over the weekend. The result is incredible snowmobiling conditions all across the area.
Mark HeinzJanuary 30, 2023
Efforts Underway To Ensure Wyoming Residents Get First Crack At Shed Antlers
Once considered a niche activity, shed hunting for elk and deer antlers has become profitable and exploded in popularity. So much so that some legislators say Wyoming residents should have a three-day head start over non-residents
Mark HeinzJanuary 29, 2023
$10 Million ‘World-Class’ Shooting Complex Could Make Wyoming An International Destination
Wyoming has missed the mark by not having a world-class shooting complex that could draw tourism and boost the state to international status among firearms and archery enthusiasts, say proponents who are trying to launch the project.
Mark HeinzJanuary 29, 2023
Legislator: Wyoming Is The ‘The Last Hope’ For Gun Rights
Rep. Jeremy Haroldson told Cowboy State Daily that the reason there are so many gun bills in the legislature this year is Wyoming is "the last hope" for gun owners and manufacturers.
Mark HeinzJanuary 27, 2023
Bill Would Allow Treeing Of Mountain Lions With Dogs Even After Filling Hunting Tags
Letting Wyoming hunters to keep pursuing mountain lions with hounds, even after theyve filled their hunting tags, would help keep the hounds well-trained and condition the big cats to avoid people and livestock, say proponents of a bill that would allow it.
Mark HeinzJanuary 26, 2023
The Roadhouse Law: Bill Would Allow Use Of Force To Remove Criminal Trespassers
Although House Bill 126 wouldn't turn every trespassing situation into a Roadhouse movie, it would strengthen trespass law to allow physical force to remove trespassers.
Mark HeinzJanuary 26, 2023
Hogpocalypse Now? Feral Swine In Colorado, Montana Could Bode Badly For Wyoming
Wildlife officials in both Colorado and Montana are concerned about feral hog infestations in their states. Colorado has already had feral hogs in the southeastern portion of the state and Montana is worried about feral swine moving south from Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Mark HeinzJanuary 26, 2023
Helicopter Hunter Who Uses M-16s To Gun Down Hogs Says Night Vision For Killing Coyotes Necessary
Blasting feral hogs with the help of night vision scopes from helicopters is highly effective in Texas, said a Cheyenne man who is advocating for the use of night vision in Wyoming to help with the control of coyotes.
Mark HeinzJanuary 25, 2023
Wyoming Hunters Call Out Fake ‘No Trespassing’ Signs On Public Land
People have been planting fake no trespassing signs on public land and trying to chase hunters away. A new bill would qualify that as "hunter harassment"l and punishable by fines up to $10,000 for the first offense and up to $50,000 for subsequent offenses.
Mark HeinzJanuary 25, 2023
Belgian Chef Says He Would Love To Serve Wild Wyoming Horses If They Were Available
The owner of a restaurant in Belgium that has been serving horse meat for more than 160 years said Wyoming horses would be great on a menu because theyre free-range and eat natural grasses. The Wyoming Legislature is considering a bill asking Congress to allow some wild mustangs to be rounded up for slaughter.
Mark HeinzJanuary 24, 2023
Former Denver Bronco Derek Wolfe Attacked On Social Media For Taking Down Dog-Killing Mountain Lion
Retired Denver Broncos Super Bowl champion Derek Wolfe was attacked by many on social media for taking down a dog-killing mountain lion. But others supported him like FOX News' Tucker Carlson.
Mark HeinzJanuary 23, 2023
Teton County Buys 1,000 Certified “Bear-Resistant” Garbage Cans But Then A Grizzly Destroyed One
More than 1,000 garbage containers that were certified bear resistant were distributed around Teton County, but it turns out they weren't. A grizzly ripped one apart in a live test.
Mark HeinzJanuary 23, 2023
Bill Would Let Hunters Use Night Vison To Kill Coyotes On Public Land
Allowing coyote hunters to use night vision on public land would give them the same rights predator hunters already have in numerous states, proponents of bill to do so said. Others had concerns over the safety of the practice.
Mark HeinzJanuary 22, 2023
Bill Would Eliminate Wyoming’s ‘Gun-Free Zones’
A bill pending before the Wyoming Legislature would eliminate the states gun free zones, such as the Capitol building, The University of Wyoming and numerous other locations.
Mark HeinzJanuary 21, 2023