Outdoors

Serious Health Conditions Don’t Stop Kids From Hunting Wyoming Big Game

Kaden Achor might not be able to walk because of cerebral palsy, but that didn’t stop him from stalking a big Wyoming bull elk. He crawled the last 75 yards or so across rough ground between Farson and Lander, trying his best to dodge prairie cactus. Then he had to pull off a 500-yard shot.

Mark HeinzOctober 19, 2024

Despite the wet and snowy weather, fire crews continue working the Pack Trail Fire in northwest wyoming.

Evacuations Lifted For All But 1 Person In Path Of Massive Wyoming Wildfires

Evacuations have been lifted for all but 1 person in the path of two massive Wyoming wildfires on Saturday. Two days of rain and snow haven’t put out the Elk and Pack Trail fires, but has “really put a hurt” on them.

Greg JohnsonOctober 19, 2024

The least-used entrance to Yellowstone National Park, the Southwest Entrance (aka Cascde Corner or the Bechler Entrance) is a dirt road that leads to some spectacular waterfalls and a historic Army outpost.

Yellowstone’s Least-Used Entrance Leads To Waterfalls, Historic Army Outpost

Yellowstone refers to the Bechler region as the park’s least traveled entrance because it is so far from any developed areas inside or outside the park. The dirt road barely shows up on some maps, but leads to stunning waterfalls, fields of blue meadows, and an historic Army outpost.

Andrew RossiOctober 19, 2024

If Feds De-List Wolves, Will Other States Follow Wyoming’s Lead And Hunt Them?

The Fish & Wildlife Service is trying to remove federal protection for wolves across the Lower 48. If that happens, it would be up to the states whether to allow wolves to be hunted. Hunting is already allowed in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.

Mark HeinzOctober 18, 2024

The face of the Bighorn Mountains over Dayton, Wyoming, are dusted with snow Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, a welcome sight from two weeks earlier when most of the mountain was glowing with a raging wildfire.

Snowstorm A “Thank You, God” Event For Those Living In Shadow Of Elk Fire

Seeing snow on the face of Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains on Friday was a “thank you, God” moment for those threatened by the Elk Fire. It’s already burned 96,000 acres, but the storm has helped firefighters go from 28% containment to 44%.

Greg JohnsonOctober 18, 2024

This image from the Bear Lodge Resort webcam in the Wyoming Bighorns shows the arrival of much-anticipated snow. The lodge is near the Elk Fire, which has grown to about 96,000 acres.

Firefighters’ Prayers Answered With Snow Falling On Huge Wyoming Wildfires

Snow is finally falling on a pair of huge Wyoming wildfires. It’s literally the answer to the prayers of firefighters and locals living under the threat of the Elk and Pack Trail fires.

Renée JeanOctober 17, 2024

Opponents Say Proposed Colorado Mountain Lion Hunting Ban Is “Ballot-Box Biology”

Colorado voters on Nov. 5 will decide a proposed ban on mountain lion hunting. The ballot question has sparked a debate over what opponents call managing wildlife through “ballot-box biology.”

Mark HeinzOctober 16, 2024

This mule deer doe showed up Oct. 7 on Dave Paullin’s rural property near Sheridan. The burn marks on her flank indicate the she barely outran the massive Elk Fire, which exploded across eight miles the night before.

Spry Wyoming Doe Has Burn Marks To Prove She Outran Huge Elk Fire

A Sheridan-area resident said a mule deer doe showed up on his property bearing burn marks from having outrun the massive, fast-moving Elk Fire. The fire has burned more than 92,000 acres across the face of the Wyoming Bighorns.

Mark HeinzOctober 16, 2024

The Elk Fire remains active in northern Wyoming, putting out large plumes of smoke.

Sheridan Area Residents Cheer Forecast For 7-13 Inches Of Snow

People in Story and other communities along the Bighorns were literally cheering Wednesday when the weather forecast predicted 7-13 inches of snow. It will help, but it’s probably not a fire-killer.

Renée JeanOctober 16, 2024

Forest Service Won't Blow Up Dead Horses Due To Fire Danger

When a horse dies in the Wyoming backcountry, sometimes the best option is to blow it to pieces so it won’t attract grizzlies. In Wyoming right now, the U.S. Forest Service says the fire danger is too extreme to explode any dead backcountry horses.

Mark HeinzOctober 15, 2024

Portable water ponds set up at a home in the path of the Elk Fire. Dozer line and fire retardant have already been set in place to protect the home if and when the fire gets to this point. It's part of the structure protection measures put in place for homes in the area.

Massive Effort Building 7-Mile Line To Keep Elk Fire From Wyoming Towns

Firefighters have charred a 7-mile strip of ground between Big Horn and Story, starting from Goose Creek. It’s a buffer zone between Wyoming communities at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains that will act as a “catcher’s mitt” to stop the Elk Fire.

Renée JeanOctober 15, 2024

A small plane is seen from above making a run to drop retardant on spot fires burning in the Pack Trail Fire.

Elk, Pack Trail Fires Each Close In On 100,000 Acres, Snow Can’t Come Soon Enough

With Wyoming’s two active wildfires each closing in on 100,000 acres, snow expected for the end of the week can’t come soon enough. Even when it does, fire management officials say it won’t be enough to kill the Elk and Pack Trail fires.

Greg JohnsonOctober 15, 2024

A woman is mobbed by racoons in this video taken late Sunday in the parking lot of the downtown Casper Best Western hotel. A hotel employee said racoons are a common sight, but an entire mob of them, such as this, is almost unheard of.

Gang Of Raccoons Mobs Woman In Casper Hotel Parking Lot

A woman was mobbed by raccoons in a Casper hotel parking lot Sunday. A hotel employee said raccoons frequent the area, but don’t usually gang up on people.

Mark HeinzOctober 15, 2024

Volunteers remove debris from around Story homes to help protect them in case the Elk Fire gets too close.

Townspeople Of Story, Wyoming, Rally To Protect Homes In Path Of Huge Wildfire

It's a monumental challenge, but townspeople in the forested community of Story are rallying together to rid the area of pine needles, pine cones, and other fire fuels as the 90,000-acre Elk Fire gets closer and closer.

Renée JeanOctober 14, 2024

Logan Wilson has been using hound dogs to hunt mountain lions in Wyoming for about three years.

Mountain Lions Gobble Up Pets And Four Goats In Story, Wyoming

Mountain lions are killing pets and livestock, including four goats, in and around the tiny Wyoming mountain town of Story. An area houndsman has stepped in to help chase the lions out.

Mark HeinzOctober 14, 2024

A large jet tanker drops a load of retardant on the Elk Fire.

13 Aircraft Maintaining An All-Out Air Assault On 90,000-Acre Elk Fire

In addition to nearly 1,000 people fighting the Elk Fire on the ground, 13 aircraft are assigned to battle. It’s more than most fires get, and they’re maintaining an all-out aerial assault on the nearly 90,000-acre fire.

Renée JeanOctober 14, 2024

Three horses recently arrived at an animal rescue center near Cheyenne, including a mare and her foal, and another mare that is pregnant. The center’s director would like to know more about them and where they came from.

Group Of Horses May Have Been Left Homeless By Wyoming Wildfires

The owner of an animal rescue facility east of Cheyenne wants the previous owners of a mare, her foal, and another mare that's pregnant to know that the animals are safe and will be well-cared for. She wonders if they were forced to sell because of the wildfires.

Mark HeinzOctober 13, 2024

Jerry Nelson is a retired geology professor from Casper. He was once treed by a grizzly and credits the dogs he had with him at the time (not the dog pictured here) for helping to save the day.

Casper Man Says Climbing A Tree Saved Him From Grizzly Attack

A Casper man says he’s living proof that climbing a tree can help someone survive a grizzly attack because he did it in the 1970s when a bear charged him. He says his two black Labs played a big role too as they kept the mama grizzly and her two cubs busy while they waited it out.

Mark HeinzOctober 13, 2024

At the Elk View Inn near Dayton, the Elk Fire appears intimidating in this file photo.

Firefighting “Spike Camp” Near Burgess Junction Tackles Elk Fire From The West

The Elk Fire has burned about 87,000 acres on the Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming. While most of the attention has been the fire’s relentless push southeast, a firefighting “spike camp” near Burgess Junction is fighting it from the west.

Renée JeanOctober 13, 2024

Aircraft continue to drop huge loads of fire retardant slurry around the Elk Fire to try and slow or halt it's spread and help establish fire lines.

Elk Fire Continues Its Southeast March, Grows Again To More Than 87,000 Acres

Like a column of soldiers, the Elk Fire in northern Wyoming continues its methodical — and at times seemingly relentless — march southeast. It’s grown again to more than 87,000 acres as of Sunday and a little less contained at 28%.

Greg JohnsonOctober 13, 2024

A firefighter picks up one of each type of lunch, vegetarian and non-vegetarian.

It Takes A Makeshift City To Support The Nearly 1,000 Elk Fire Firefighters

There are nearly 1,000 firefighters and support personnel assigned to the Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team fighting the Elk Fire in northern Wyoming. It takes a makeshift city to support them all.

Renée JeanOctober 12, 2024

Two Ocean Creek in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness is the only body of water on the planet that splits and flows into both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Wyoming's Two Ocean Creek Is Only Body Of Water That Flows Into Atlantic And Pacific

Parting of the Waters deep in the Teton Wilderness is a uniquely Wyoming wonder where Two Ocean Creek splits, flowing into both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It’s the only body of water on the planet to do that.

Andrew RossiOctober 12, 2024

Firefighters on the ground do strategic burning to help gain control of the Elk Fire.

Stubborn Elk Fire Grows To Nearly 85,000 Acres, But Now 32% Contained

The huge Elk Fire in northern Wyoming continues to be a stubborn, dangerous event, growing to nearly 85,000 acres by Saturday. But firefighters are making significant progress, achieving 32% containment.

Greg JohnsonOctober 12, 2024

Park County voters line up to cast their ballots at the Cody Rec Center for the Aug. 20, 2024, Wyoming primary election.

Wyoming Hunters And Gun Owners Buck National Trend Of Not Voting

Nationwide apathy and distrust of government has caused a drop in hunters and gun owners registering to vote, reports Vote4America. But not in Wyoming, where hunters and gun owners buck that trend, likely because they feel supported by conservatives.

Mark HeinzOctober 11, 2024

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