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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.

Find Mark Heinz

Latest from Mark Heinz

This trout has injuries ranking 4, or massive injury, on a hooking injury scale developed by Jeff Glaid, Game and Fish fisheries biologist in the Casper Region.

Wyoming Anglers’ Shift To Catch-and-Release Fuels Worry For Maimed Fish

The fishing culture in Wyoming has shifted from catching fish for food to catch-and-release fishing. That’s raised concerns about fish suffering multiple injuries from being hooked over and over again.

Mark HeinzSeptember 09, 2025

Karl Brauneis of Lander prefers to hunt the old-school way. He shot this elk at 45 yards with a Winchester .30-30 rifle.

Wyoming Old-Timers Say Hunting Ain’t What It Used To Be

Hunters of a certain age might wax nostalgic for a simpler time. Back then, hunting tags were readily available at the local store and knocking on a local rancher’s door and politely asking permission to hunt on his land usually worked.

Mark HeinzSeptember 07, 2025

Wyoming backcountry hunter Vance McGahey has tried numerous ways of packing out meat. A few years ago, he settled on using pack goats.

Wyoming Hunting: How to Haul Out Elk Meat

In Wyoming, hunters often kill their game miles away from their vehicles, so it takes a combination of skill, improvisation and pack goats to get the meat back. Knowing how to break down a carcass is just as vital as knowing how to bring an animal down.

Mark HeinzSeptember 07, 2025

The Wyoming hunting outlook for the 2025 season is excellent for elk, cautiously optimistic for mule deer and improving for antelope.

Wyoming Hunting 2025: Elk Plentiful, Deer And Antelope On The Rebound 

The Wyoming hunting outlook for the 2025 season is excellent for elk, cautiously optimistic for mule deer and improving for antelope. But some prime hunting grounds are closed as crews fight a pair of large wildfires in the western part of the state.

Mark HeinzSeptember 07, 2025

Wolves in the wild can’t afford to waste time and energy. Even when they seem to romp and play — almost like giant puppies — there’s serious purpose behind it, wildlife biologists say.

Why Wolves Sometimes Play Around Like Giant Puppies

Wolves in the wild can’t afford to waste time and energy. Even when they seem to romp and play — almost like giant puppies — there’s serious purpose behind it, wildlife biologists say.

Mark HeinzSeptember 06, 2025

Wyoming’s Harriet Hageman and the rest of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources met at Grand Teton National Park on Friday. They were told that the park depends on federal money, and that it can’t meet the tourism demand if the toilets won’t flush.

Grand Teton Can’t Meet Demand If Toilets Won’t Flush, U.S. House Members Told

Wyoming’s Harriet Hageman and the rest of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources met at Grand Teton National Park on Friday. They were told that the park depends on federal money, and that it can’t meet the tourism demand if the toilets won’t flush.

Mark HeinzSeptember 05, 2025

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U.S. House Committee To Meet In Grand Teton About Money For National Parks

With billions of dollars' worth of backlogged repairs at stake, a congressional House committee meets in Grand Teton National Park on Friday. It will debate the future of the Great American Outdoors Act, which expires this month.

Mark HeinzSeptember 04, 2025

Burning piles of slash, or the leftover material from logging, during cool, wet weather helps reduce the risk of massive summer wildfires.

Wyoming’s Zero-Tolerance Wildfire Policy Leaves No Room For ‘Let It Burn'

Wildfire can play a cleansing role in nature, but in much of Wyoming it is considered too risky to let it burn. That’s why agencies rush to put out fires as soon as they can.

Mark HeinzSeptember 04, 2025

This curious cow elk in the Greys River area in Teton County was undeterred by old human and horse scent at a game trail camera site.

One-Eared Elk Named Van Gogh A Good Sign For Elk Hunting

A one-eared elk, nicknamed 'van Gogh' is one of many elk visiting an area with a webcam on a daily basis. The number of elk is encouraging to hunters as this area was wiped-out by the hard winter of 2022-2023.

Mark HeinzSeptember 02, 2025

Wyoming hunters might dream of finding gigantic mule deer bucks this fall, but mule deer numbers are down.

Wyoming Mule Deer Numbers Down, But There Are Monster Bucks For Hunters

Numbers in Wyoming’s mule deer herds are down but finally bouncing back after the horrific winterkill of 2022-2023. Even so, there are some monster bucks out there for hunters this season.

Mark HeinzSeptember 02, 2025

Wyoming native Rob Wallace is an obvious choice for a prestigious Teton Science Schools conservation award, the organization says. Wallace oversaw the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during President Trump’s first administration.

Former National Park Service Chief Rob Wallace Honored With Conservation Award

Wyoming native Rob Wallace is an obvious choice for a prestigious Teton Science Schools conservation award, the organization says. Wallace oversaw the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during President Trump’s first administration.

Mark HeinzSeptember 01, 2025

People might think their dogs would rush in to save them from a mauling if a grizzly attacks. But you shouldn’t bet your life on it. Research shows Fido is more likely to get the bear mad, then run, leaving their owners to become brunch.

Don't Count On Your Dog To Save You From A Bear Attack

A prominent bear biologist in Utah studied more than 300 bear-human conflicts involving dogs in North America. 80% of the time, dogs didn’t respond to bears attacking their humans. In many cases, dogs “sat and watched" the attacks.

Mark HeinzAugust 31, 2025

Other Authors

As e-bikes gain popularity with Wyoming hunters for their quiet access and convenience, concerns grow over trail regulations and the impact on previously secluded hunting grounds.

E-Bikes Transform Wyoming Hunting, Spark Debate Over Backcountry Crowding

E-bikes are increasingly part of Wyoming's hunting scene. That means more accessibility for more people in the outdoors, which is both good and bad, depending upon the perspective. 

Mark HeinzAugust 30, 2025

Majestic images of mountain lions leaping across gullies are most likely staged with captive animals. World-renowned Wyoming wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen is on a mission to end the “game farms” that abuse and exploit those wild animals.

'Breathtaking’ Images Of Leaping Mountain Lions Likely Staged In Game Farms

Majestic images of mountain lions leaping across gullies are most likely staged with captive animals. World-renowned Wyoming wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen is on a mission to end the game farms that abuse and exploit those wild animals.

Mark HeinzAugust 30, 2025

Grizzly maul 7 14 23

Lower 48 Bears Are More ‘Grouchy’ And Prone To Attack, Biologist Says

A woman was attacked by a bear in Glacier National Park, Montana, this week — and experts say she’s lucky her hiking partner blasted it with bear spray. A biologist says bears in the Lower 48 are generally more “grouchy” than their northern cousins.

Mark HeinzAugust 30, 2025

A gigantic Wyoming ranch once got 57 landowner hunting tags even though each property is allowed just two tags. Legislators on Friday discussed a proposal to limit landowner tags to prevent properties from becoming private hunting clubs.

Gigantic Wyoming Ranch Once Got 57 Landowner Hunting Tags; Legislature Eyes Cap

A gigantic Wyoming ranch once got 57 landowner hunting tags even though each property is allowed just two tags. Legislators on Friday discussed a proposal to limit landowner tags to prevent properties from becoming private hunting clubs.

Mark HeinzAugust 29, 2025

Some worry that rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule would impinge upon Wyoming’s prime remote hunting and angling areas.

Ending Roadless Rule Threatens Wyoming’s Hunting and Fishing, Outdoors Groups Say

The 2001 Roadless Rule applies to remote areas all over Wyoming, and the Trump administration might rescind it. Outdoors groups claim that could ruin prime hunting and fishing spots, while others say the rule has stunted proper management of forests.

Mark HeinzAugust 27, 2025

Gary Wadhams, a member of the volunteer Sand Wash Advocate Team (SWAT), prepares to dart wild horse mares with fertility-control drugs in northwest Colorado.

Colorado Shoots Mustangs With Birth-Control Darts, Why Doesn’t Wyoming?

In Colorado, volunteers shoot female wild horses with darts loaded with fertility-control drugs to manage herd numbers. Wyoming doesn’t, because its vast rangelands and huge mustang herds make birth control for horses impractical.

Mark HeinzAugust 27, 2025

The GPS service onX Hunt is practically standard equipment for hunters, but its accuracy might be off by a few yards. That’s enough to get users charged with trespassing — and into big trouble.

Popular Hunting App May Not Keep You From Trespassing — Or Out Of Big Trouble

The GPS service onX Hunt is practically standard equipment for hunters, but its accuracy can be off by a few yards. That’s enough to potentially get users charged with trespassing — and into big trouble.

Mark HeinzAugust 26, 2025

Beef tallow is gaining popularity as a skin moisturizer, and the jury is still out on its skin care benefits. But one thing is for certain — applying it in grizzly country is practically begging to get mauled.

Beef Tallow Is A Hot Skin Care Trend, But In Grizzly Country It Makes You Bear Bait

Beef tallow is gaining popularity as a skin care treatment, but slathering it on while vacationing in Yellowstone National Park or anywhere in grizzly country is a really, really bad idea, say bear experts.

Mark HeinzAugust 23, 2025

Archery hunter Austin Nimmo of Casper said that bowhunting for Wyoming elk is challenging and rewarding.

Wyoming Bowhunters Say Archery Seasons Are All About The Challenge

Wyoming’s big game archery seasons are kicking off, and bowhunters explain the allure of hunting with one of the most primitive methods. While bows and arrows are now high-tech, hunters say archery seasons are all about the challenge.

Mark HeinzAugust 22, 2025

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