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
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
Against ‘Astronomical Odds,’ Aladdin Man Hunts All Four Of Wyoming’s Legal ‘Big 5’
Wyomings system for drawing allowed Joe Feeley of Aladdin to draw tags for all the Big 5 trophy game species currently legal to hunt. Even so, he favors a bill that would reform the tag draw system because it would give young hunters better odds.
Mark HeinzJanuary 21, 2023
The ‘Squallet’: A Quintessential American Product With Wyoming Roots
The Squallet is a wallet made from a squirrel pelt, complete with the head and tail. The company that provides Squallets was launched thanks to former Wyoming Attorney General Pat Crank.
Mark HeinzJanuary 20, 2023
Three Montana Grizzlies Killed After They Were Sickened By Bird Flu
Three Montana grizzly bears sickened by bird flu had to be killed because they were suffering neurological damage from the virus. This is the first time the virus has been reported in grizzlies.
Mark HeinzJanuary 19, 2023
Horse, It’s What’s For Dinner: Legislators Discuss Resolution To Re-Open Horse Slaughterhouses
To get a handle on growing herds of wild mustangs in Wyoming and the American West, a resolution being considered by the Legislature says Congress should re-open American horse slaughterhouses so the meat can be shipped to places where people eat it.
Mark HeinzJanuary 19, 2023
Sen. Charlie Scott Says Shotgun Is Good Way To Deal With Annoying Drones
Sens. Charlie Scott and Lynn Hutchings on Wednesday said there should be a provision in the drone bill that would allow a landowner to shoot down drones that are trespassing over private property.
Mark HeinzJanuary 19, 2023
Realtor: Hobbyists Who Buy “Cheap Drones At Wal-Mart” Causing Problems For Legit Drone Operators
In a legislative committee meeting on Wednesday, the president of the Wyoming Realtors association said commercial drone operators are well-behaved. It's the "hobbyists who buy cheap drones at Wal-Mart and fly them over their neighbors properties," who are causing all the problems, he said.
Mark HeinzJanuary 18, 2023
Bill Would Remove 75% – 25% Preference Point System For “Big 5” Trophy Game Species
Wyomings trophy species hunters sometimes wait decades before drawing a once-in-a-lifetime tag -- if they draw one at all. Senate File 88 would reform the drawing process and could give younger hunters a chance, proponents say.
Mark HeinzJanuary 18, 2023
Bill Empowering Game Wardens To Ticket For Criminal Trespass Advances To Senate Floor
Although there were concerns that a bill empowering Wyoming game wardens to bust trespassers was an attempt to "back-door"restrictions on corner crossing, those fears appear to have been alleviated as Senate File 56 was passed out of committee to the senate floor on Tuesday.
Mark HeinzJanuary 18, 2023