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
Bird Flu Won’t Hurt Waterfowl Season, Say Wyoming Hunters
Widespread outbreaks of bird flu this year have wiped out some domestic flocks and killed wild waterfowl, but Wyoming duck and goose hunters says theyre not concerned about it having any impact.
Mark HeinzNovember 02, 2022
Stopping A Grizzly Attack: What Works Better — Bear Spray Or A Gun?
Its a question that has swirled for decades among outdoors enthusiasts in grizzly country, are you better off with bear spray or a firearm?
Mark HeinzNovember 02, 2022
Mountain Lion Takes A Snooze In Wyoming Couple’s Window Well
Game and Fish wardens tranquilized the mountain lion in the window well and took her out through the house.
Mark HeinzNovember 02, 2022
Three Deaths In County Jail Loom Over Albany County Sheriff’s Race
Whichever candidate wins the election for Wyomings Albany County Sheriff will face a tall order of continuing to reform the sheriffs office and rebuilding its reputation with the public.
Mark HeinzNovember 01, 2022
Colorado Wolves May Have Crossed Border And Then Shot In Wyoming
Three subadult female wolves shot in Wyoming just across the border from Colorado highlight stark differences in the states laws, where its illegal to kill wolves in Colorado but allowed in Wyoming.
Mark HeinzNovember 01, 2022
Game & Fish Says No Grizzlies Yet In Bighorns, But It May Just Be A Matter Of Time
The Wyoming Game and Fish department say grizzly bears havent made it to the Bighorn Mountains yet, despite greatly expanding their range over the last few decades. Others aren't that sure...
Mark HeinzOctober 31, 2022
Flamethrowers: One More Reason Why Wyoming Is Better Than California
A Sheridan resident who recently moved from California said hes ecstatic to have the freedom to enjoy using his flamethrower here, which he couldnt do in his former home state.
Mark HeinzOctober 28, 2022
Good Samaritans Rescue Antelope Stuck In Barbed-Wire
When a trio of good Samaritans saw an antelope tangled up in barbed-wire on the Wyoming South Dakota border, they immediately cut the fence to free the animal.
Mark HeinzOctober 28, 2022
Kill A Grizzly In Wyoming Illegally And Get Huge Fines, Jail Time
Prepare for state and feds to investigate if you kill a grizzly. And if your kill wasn't in self-defense, you could pay up to $50,000, spend a year behind bars.
Mark HeinzOctober 27, 2022
Wyoming Hunter Has 5-Minute Stand-Off With Black Bear: “If He Pounces, I’m Done”
A Wyoming hunter had to endure an extended stare-down with a huge, irritated black bear while making sure he was legally clear to shoot the bruin to fill his tag.
Mark HeinzOctober 27, 2022
Remains Identified As Wyoming Hunter Who Went Missing In 2019 Snowstorm
The Carbon County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wednesday afternoon that human remains found Oct. 16 are those of Mark A. Strittmater, 44. He went missing in a snowstorm Oct. 19, 2019, while elk hunting.
Mark HeinzOctober 26, 2022
Despite Shooting Himself, Wyoming Hunter Says Handgun Saved Him From Grizzly
Evanston hunter Lee Francis told Cowboy State Daily that despite shooting himself, his 10 mm Glock saved his life. "The grizzly was a foot away from the muzzle and it was just bam, bam, bam, bam, bam!"
Mark HeinzOctober 26, 2022
Too Many Wild Horses? Some Legislators Say Wyoming’s ‘Feral’ Horses Population Is Out Of Control
Wyomings wild or feral horse population remains essentially uncontrolled, some legislators said. Meanwhile, the states Native American tribes could set an example in horse management, a wildlife advocate said Tuesday.
Mark HeinzOctober 26, 2022
Non-Resident Wyoming Hunting Tags Could Get Huge Price Hike
Prices could rise dramatically for some nonresident Wyoming hunting licenses in a move some say will bring them more in line with averages across other Westen states.
Mark HeinzOctober 25, 2022
Two Men Charged With Beating, Robbing Wyoming Hunters
One man from Colorado and another from Wyoming have been charged with aggravated assault and battery and theft after accusing a pair of hunters in Lincoln County of taking their elk carcasses.
Mark HeinzOctober 24, 2022
Wyoming Girl Bags First Elk While Wearing Crocs
Forget the expensive, big-brand hunting boots a Wyoming girl dropped her first elk while wearing Crocs. The freshman from Lander say they bring her good luck.
Mark HeinzOctober 24, 2022
Rifle, Personal Belongings Led To Discovery Of Human Remains In Carbon County
A firearm found on the ground south of Rawlins led to the discovery of human remains Oct. 16, but the Carbon County Sheriffs Office hasnt yet released the identity of the body.
Mark HeinzOctober 24, 2022
Wyoming “Deer 255” Breaks All Long Distance Migration Records
Deer 255, a Wyoming mule deer doe, holds the record for the longest-documented land migration in the Lower 48. Her travels have been documented and watched via a collar cam for over 2,100 miles of migration across Wyoming.
Mark HeinzOctober 21, 2022
Wyoming Landowner Kills Wolves After Rare Attack On Horses
A landowner recently was allowed by Wyoming Game and Fish to put down some wolves in the Gros Ventre mountains after they killed two foals and injured three other horses.
Mark HeinzOctober 21, 2022
Human Remains Found In Carbon County, No Word If Linked To Hunter Missing Since 2019
Its unclear if human remains found in Carbon County this week belong to a hunter who went missing there during a 2019 snowstorm.
Mark HeinzOctober 20, 2022
Finding Monster Wyoming Elk’s Missing Antler In Vast Nothingness Of Red Desert Was “Miracle”
The monster bull elk was missing the left side of its massive rack. When the hunters stumbled upon the broken antlers in an area larger than eight U.S. states, they were gobsmacked. So they MacGyvered it together to get the elk home.
Mark HeinzOctober 20, 2022