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
First Wildlife Overpass Across Interstate 80 In Wyoming To Be Built Near Elk Mountain
The first wildlife overpass across Interstate 80 will be at a location near Elk Mountain. The project received an additional $10 million appropriation for the project on Tuesday.
Mark HeinzSeptember 14, 2022
Experimental Vaccine Tests In Wyoming Elk Offer Hope In Wasting Disease Fight
The initial results of an experimental chronic wasting disease vaccine test on elk look promising, but arent a major breakthrough, researchers said.
Mark HeinzSeptember 14, 2022
Draft Bill Would Make Drone Delivery Of Weapons, Cell Phones, Drugs Over Prisons A Felony
A draft bill going before the Wyoming Legislature would make flying drones over prisons to deliver cell phones, drugs, and weapons a felony.
Mark HeinzSeptember 14, 2022
Draft Bill Would Give Wyoming Game Wardens More Authority To Ticket Trespassers
The draft bill would give game wardens the authority to write trespassing tickets in cases for which they currently have to wait for a sheriffs deputy
Mark HeinzSeptember 13, 2022
Wyoming Legislators Working To Make Sure Hunting With Drones Is Illegal & Strengthening Trespass Laws
Wyoming legislators plan this week to consider making sure drones are included in the legal definition of aircraft forbidden for scouting or hunting game animal.
Mark HeinzSeptember 12, 2022
Bird Flu Now Killing Wyoming Raptors; Roughly 100 Eagles, Hawk, Falcons Dead
Bird flu usually kills wild waterfowl and domestic poultry, but now its starting to take a toll on Wyomings raptors. Roughly 100 eagles, hawks, and falcons have died of the disease in Wyoming.
Mark HeinzSeptember 12, 2022
National Guard Airlifts Stranded Front-End Loader Stuck In Remnants Of Yellowstone Flood
When a National Park Service front-end loader got stranded in the remnants of the Yellowstone flood, a gigantic CH-47 Chinook helicopter was the only way they could get it out.
Mark HeinzSeptember 09, 2022
Wyoming Trapper Hopes Russia Raccoon Market Opens Again Soon, Not Concerned About Rabies Epidemic
As a raccoon rabies epidemic rages in the Eastern U.S., a Lander trapper said he hopes Russian relations warm-up so he can restart his raccoon fur business to the country.
Mark HeinzSeptember 09, 2022
Wyoming’s Medicine Bow Forest Under Fire Restrictions, Cooler Weather Won’t Help
Stage 1 fire restrictions went into effect on Thursday across the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and Thunder Basin National Grassland in east and southeast Wyoming, and impending cooler weather wont relieve them
Mark HeinzSeptember 08, 2022
Wildlife Mating Season In Wyoming: Tourists Warned Not To Approach, Pet, Saddle Animals
It's mating season for Wyoming wildlife which means it's time for seasonal warnings from wildlife agencies reminding people not to approach, pet, or try to saddle bear, moose, elk, and other wild animals.
Mark HeinzSeptember 08, 2022
Yellowstone’s Steamboat Geyser, World’s Highest-Erupting Geyser, Is Going Dormant
Steamboat Geyser in Yellowstone Park appears to be going quiet. The geyser was highly active from 2018 until June of this year but now it's dormant.
Mark HeinzSeptember 08, 2022
Corner Crossing Lawsuit Trial Court Date Set For Next Summer
The opposing sides in a corner crossing civil case won't get their day in court until June 26, 2023.
Mark HeinzSeptember 07, 2022
Wyoming’s Wildfire Haze To Lift, Better Hunting Weather On The Way
Wildfire smoke and mediocre elk hunting in extreme heat persisted in much of Wyoming on Wednesday, but cooler, clear weather should be on the way.
Mark HeinzSeptember 07, 2022
Gun, Ammo Excise Taxes Net $19.5 Million For Wyoming Conservation
Wyomings share of this years federal excise tax funds from firearms and ammunition sales was nearly $19.5 million several million more than any of the previous four years, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
Mark HeinzSeptember 07, 2022
Record Temperatures Makes Wyoming Elk Hunt Opening Day A Challenge, But Doesn’t Ruin It
Blazing weather during the opening week of many of Wyoming big game bow hunting seasons might make it difficult, though not impossible, to find elk, some hunters said.
Mark HeinzSeptember 06, 2022
Wyoming AR-15 Fans Say It’s A Great Hunting Rifle
The ArmaLite, or AR-15 rifle remains popular among Wyoming hunters and sport shooters, Wyoming hunters and gun shop owners say.
Mark HeinzSeptember 02, 2022
Potential For Conflicts With Grizzlies Rise As Wyoming Hunters Take To Backcountry
Wyoming hunters are taking to the field just as grizzly bears are trying to fatten up for hibernation; a recipe for conflict.
Mark HeinzSeptember 02, 2022
Wyoming’s Luck With Wildfire Holds, So Far
Despite high temperatures and loads of dead fuel in its forests, Wyoming has so far avoided a nasty wildfire season -- but with post-summer outdoor activity ramping up, luck might not hold, officials said.
Mark HeinzSeptember 02, 2022
Record-Breaking Gun, Ammo Sales Windfall Helps Wyoming Conservation
Wyoming will get its share of the record-breaking $300 million-plus in excise tax funds posted by the gun and ammunition industry in the first quarter of 2022.
Mark HeinzSeptember 01, 2022
Airbnb Competition With Wyoming Motels Could “Gut” Hunting Season Lodging Business
One Pinedale motel owner said competition from Airbnb has gutted his business for hunting season. Guided vs. unguided hunters might make the difference, he said.
Mark HeinzAugust 31, 2022
Yes, Snipe Hunting Is A Real Thing; Wyoming Season Opens Thursday
Sending tenderfeet on a snipe hunt is a time-honored practical joke among outdoors enthusiasts. But snipe are a real wetland bird species that can be hunted in Wyoming and the season opens Thursday.
Mark HeinzAugust 31, 2022