Outdoors | Cowboy State Daily

A large bull moose was stuck for hours in a Red Lodge, Montana, skate park on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026.

Bull Moose Rescued After Stuck For Hours In Montana Skate Park

A bull moose that got stuck in a skate park in Red Lodge, Montana, prompted an hourslong, multi-agency effort to get it out Wednesday that ended when the tranquilized animal was pulled out. “It’s been an exciting day in Red Lodge,” said one resident.

Andrew RossiOctober 07, 2026

Idaho Man Hospitalized After Tackling Black Bear In Home To Save Family

A Salmon, Idaho, man tackled a black bear that broke into his home, then wrestled the animal in their yard to protect his family. The man is recovering in a hospital and three bears were euthanized. "I think instinct took over," a family friend said.

Kaitlyn Hart & EastIdahoNews.comOctober 06, 2026

This moose, called The Beast, is on par with famous Teton titan bulls such as Hoback and Shoshone. But he’s on private property and doesn’t have to deal with mobs of tourists.

'The Beast' Is A Monster Wyoming Bull Moose, But Good Luck Getting A Glimpse

A bull moose called The Beast is huge enough to have a shot at dethroning Grand Teton celebrity bulls such as Hoback and Shoshone. But few see him because he lives on private property in southwest Wyoming, far away from wildlife paparazzi — and hunters.

Mark HeinzOctober 05, 2026

Every September, the park hosts its annual Buffalo Roundup, when riders on horseback gather the free-roaming bison scattered across the park and drive them into corrals. The South Dakota park plans to auction more than 600 bison this year, up from previous years due to drought conditions.

Drought Forcing Custer State Park To Auction Off At Least 600 South Dakota Bison

South Dakota's Custer State Park will auction off at least 600 bison next month, a 38% increase from last year because of drought conditions on the range. “Ultimately, the purpose of the auction is herd management,” said a state parks spokesman.

Kate MeadowsOctober 05, 2026

A group of 50-year buddies on a horseback ride through rugged Wyoming backcountry went sideways when one was thrown from his horse and lay motionless in the dirt. Fortunately, one of those friends is John Williams, a combat-veteran Navy doctor.

Doctor Saves 50-Year Friend After Fall From Horse In Rugged Wyoming Backcountry

A group of 50-year buddies on a horseback ride through rugged Wyoming backcountry became immediate emergency responders when one was thrown from his horse and lay motionless in the dirt. Fortunately, one of those friends is a combat-veteran Navy doctor.

Kolby FedoreOctober 05, 2026

Volunteers load the carcasses of sheep killed by lightning on Sept. 23 in Montana’s Gravelly Range mountains into a trailer bound for a carcass composting site.

After Lightning Bolt Kills 220 Sheep, Carcass Composters Spring Into Action

When a bolt of lightning killed 220 sheep in southwest Montana’s remote Gravelly Range last month, it left the area littered with piles of electrocuted carcasses. The race was on to remove them before they became a magnet for hungry grizzly bears.

Mark HeinzOctober 04, 2026

Berryman of Ralston, just shy of turning 67, finally got his first bull elk.

Lifelong Wyoming Hunter Finally Bags His First Bull Elk Just Shy Of Turning 67

Though born in Wyoming and having spent his life here as an avid hunter, one goal eluded Mike Berryman: Bagging a bull elk. Two weeks before turning 67, he met that goal last week on the opening morning of rifle season in the South Fork area near Cody.

Mark HeinzOctober 04, 2026

Yellowstone tourists who follow the rules say they’re sick of watching others who won’t walk on thermals and approach wildlife. “My reaction was, ‘Oh my God! They shouldn't be there,’” said Glenn Osborn, who got this photograph last weekend of people at the edge of Grand Prismatic Spring.

Author And Former Longtime Ranger Says Dumb Tourists Think Yellowstone Is Disneyland

Author Bob Richard, who was a longtime ranger, says Yellowstone tourists don't pay attention to rules because they suffer from the "Disney Syndrome." “They think Yellowstone is a park,” he said, and to them it's a safe and controlled environment.

Andrew RossiOctober 04, 2026

The oldest whitebark pine in the world, found in Grand Teton National Park's Paintbrush Canyon. This tree died in 2021 from an infestation of mountain pine beetles, a problem facing old and young whitebark pines throughout North America.

1,289-Year-Old Whitebark Pine — World's Oldest — Found In Grand Teton, But It Was Dead

Two University of Wyoming scientists were excited and dejected after discovering the world's oldest whitebark pine in Grand Teton National Park recently. That's because the 1,289-year-old tree had died in 2021. “Every tree has its limit," said a UW researcher.

Andrew RossiOctober 03, 2026

Rancher Carrie Schell and her husband, Kyle, were heading into town when they noticed an unfamiliar vehicle on their property. When they stopped the driver, his explanation was that the gates were open and there were no signs, so it was OK for him to drive onto their land.

Landowners Fed Up With New Breed Of Trespassers Who Think Rules Don't Apply To Them

Landowners across Wyoming and the West say they are encountering a new breed of "entitled trespassers" who think gates and No Trespassing signs don't apply to them. They believe if they have a good reason for being there, they have a right to be there.

Kate MeadowsOctober 03, 2026

Smash was living up to his nickname earlier this week when he was caught on video trying to battle with a small, white Honda sedan.

Massive Estes Park Bull Elk Nicknamed 'Smash' Fights Cars And Chases Golf Carts

A notorious bull elk in Estes Park known as Smash rammed a Colorado reporter's car recently as part his autumn-rut ritual of chasing golf carts and vehicles. Bull elk are "perpetually angry" this time of year, a wildlife biologist explains.

Mark HeinzOctober 02, 2026

Strangers Rally For Miracle Rescue Of Great Horned Owl Impaled On Barbed-Wire Fence

When Sharon and Scott Jacobs saw a great horned owl tangled and impaled in a barbed wire fence, they didn't look the other way. Thanks to their efforts and other caring strangers, the owl was saved. The Black Hills Raptor Center calls it a miracle.

Kate MeadowsOctober 02, 2026

David Crouch, 27, went missing while camping in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in August 1997. His disappearance has haunted retired Sublette County Sheriff Hank Ruland for nearly three decades.

Now Retired, Wyoming Sheriff Still Haunted 29 Years After Camper Went Missing

David Crouch, 27, went missing while camping in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in August 1997. He was last seen on the banks of Island Lake with a fishing rod in hand. His disappearance has haunted retired Sublette County Sheriff Hank Ruland for nearly three decades.

Jen KocherOctober 02, 2026

A screenshot from the original TikTok by ISA KNOWS, which shows Megan Pope confronting a line of tourist photographers at Mormon Row in Grand Teton National Park.

Pregnant Photographer Mooed At By Tourist Mob Talks About Viral Grand Teton Video

9 million people on TikTok have watched a pregnant Rock Springs photographer lose her temper at a line of tourists who taunted and mooed at her last week in Grand Teton. “Wyoming might be your vacation destination, but it’s also our home," she told them.

Emma Jane JacksonOctober 02, 2026

One of five wolves reintroduced to northern Colorado in December 2023.

Colorado Backs Off Killing Wolves That Attack Cattle As Population Stalls At 45

Colorado's wolf population has leveled off at 45, half of them pups. With no new wolves coming because states won't send them and Canada is no longer an option, the state says it will be more selective about killing wolves that attack cattle.

Mark HeinzOctober 01, 2026

Bear breaks into a dumpster in east Bozeman in the early morning on Sept. 28.

Montana Wildlife Officials Kill 14 Black Bears On One Property Near Bozeman

Wildlife officials this week killed 14 black bears that were reportedly being fed on a property near Bozeman, Montana. Locals say Bozeman is overrun with bears this year. “They poop in my yard every night,” one resident said.

Mark HeinzSeptember 30, 2026

A bull elk held his rival underwater for several seconds during a brutal fight in Evergreen Lake in Colorado early Sunday.

In Battle Of Rutting Colorado Elk, Bull Pulls Rival Under Water And Steals Harem

Two bull elk staged a furious fight in Colorado’s Lake Evergreen on Sunday, with the bigger bull using his antlers to hold his opponent underwater. To add insult to injury, the larger bull then walked over and stole the smaller elk's harem.

Mark HeinzSeptember 30, 2026

Three grizzly cubs-of-the-year were stuck and killed on the North Fork Highway late Monday or early Tuesday.

Heartbreak: Photog Finds 3 Grizzly Cubs Killed By Vehicle On Highway Near Wapiti

A Cody photographer heading to Yellowstone found three dead grizzly cubs on the North Fork Highway on Tuesday morning. The photographer said the bears were stuck along a curve and the driver probably didn’t see the bears until it was too late.

Mark HeinzSeptember 30, 2026

Screenshot of Evie the horse living with bison in Yellowstone

A Horse Is Living With Bison In Yellowstone And Is Not Interested In Coming Home

A 6-year-old horse named Evie has taken up with a herd of bison in Yellowstone since July. The Park Service wants her evicted before winter and her owner wants her back, but the horse has resisted all attempts to wrangle her. "She's not interested in being captured," one photographer said.

Andrew RossiSeptember 30, 2026

Dakota Smith bagged this trophy-sized mule deer buck deep in the backcountry near Star Valley, only to have its head, antlers, and cape go missing the next day. He suspects it was stolen.

After Months Tracking Monster Mule Deer, Wyoming Hunter’s Trophy Goes Missing

After months of tracking a monster-sized mule deer buck and bagging it during a backcountry hunt in the rugged high country near Star Valley, a Wyoming man says his trophy’s head, antlers, and cape vanished. “I worked my butt off for that deer,” he said.

Mark HeinzSeptember 29, 2026

A grizzly bear has shown up near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, for the third this year, providing a “glimmer of hope” grizzlies might be expanding their territory into central Idaho, bear advocates say. On the other hand, the grizzly might've just been hungry.

Grizzly Advocates Hope Bear Spotted In North Idaho Means Territory Is Expanding

Grizzly recovery advocates are hoping that a bear spotted near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, means its territory is expanding. It's the third time this year one has been spotted in the area. "It gives a glimmer of hope," one advocate said.

Mark HeinzSeptember 29, 2026

Road hunting can be effective for spotting game, an option for elderly or disabled hunters, or just a lazier way to hunt.

While Road Hunters Get Sneered At As Lazy, ‘Everybody Gets Old,’ Outdoorsman Says

While some might regard road hunters as the lazy bums of the outdoors world, seeking wildlife from a climate-controlled cab has its place, advocates said. “We all get old,” avid hunter Buzz Hettick of Laramie told Cowboy State Daily.

Mark HeinzSeptember 28, 2026

Some of wildlife photographer Sylvia Borgonovo’s most iconic images were of Yellowstone’s famous Wolf 1090F.

Wildlife World Grieves Photographer Known For Iconic Images Of Yellowstone's Oldest Wolf

The wildlife world is grieving the loss of Yellowstone photographer Sylvia Borgonovo who captured some of the most famous images of Yellowstone's oldest known living wolf. She was a stalwart advocate for wolves, grizzlies, and other wildlife.

Mark HeinzSeptember 27, 2026

Deb Tonsager-Burke shot this bizarre-looking pronghorn buck on Tuesday in southeast Wyoming.

Wyoming Hunter Bags Antelope Buck With Supersized Double Set Of Horns

A pronghorn buck shot by a hunter in southeast Wyoming this week had a supersized double set of horns. That's because Instead of shedding last year’s horn sheaths, he just grew a new set right behind them. "I've Never seen anything like this," said one taxidermist.

Mark HeinzSeptember 26, 2026