Outdoors | Cowboy State Daily

Hunter Attacked, Severely Bitten By Grizzly In Western Wyoming

A 31-year-old archery hunter from Georgia was attacked by a grizzly early Thursday in Wyoming’s Upper Green River Valley. He suffered severe bite wounds to his thigh before shooting the bear dead with his handgun in self-defense.

Mark HeinzSeptember 26, 2024

In Anticipation Of Grizzly Delisting, Montana Tracks How Many Grizzles Died, And Why

As Montana looks forward to grizzlies possibly being delisted, the state is tracking how bears there die and why. With 2,000 bears, Montana has by far the most grizzlies in the Lower 48.

Mark HeinzSeptember 25, 2024

Climbing Community Hit “Hard” By Death Of Devils Tower Climber

News of a climber falling to his death Sunday at Devils Tower has hit the climbing community “pretty hard.” A Gillette climber who’s tackled Devils Tower nearly 150 times says even “easy” routes take skill and attention.

Andrew RossiSeptember 24, 2024

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

Even After Pack Removed, Wolves Killing Colorado Cattle, More Coming From Canada

Even after removing a pack of wolves in northern Colorado, cattle are still getting killed by the predators. Meanwhile, that state’s controversial introduction program continues with more wolves coming from Canada.

Mark HeinzSeptember 24, 2024

Austin King has been missing since summiting Eagle Peak in Yellowstone National Park on Sept. 17.

Best Friend Of Yellowstone Hiker Missing A Week Waits At Camp, Desperate For News

Desmond McGroarty, lifelong best friend of missing Yellowstone hiker Austin King, is desperately hoping he’s found alive. He’s at the concessions village where they'd both been working, eager for any news.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 24, 2024

Climber Dies After Fall From Devils Tower, Partner Rescued

A 21-year-old climber from Wisconsin died after a fall while climbing Devils Tower on Sunday. He was climbing with a partner, who became stranded and was rescued.

Andrew RossiSeptember 24, 2024

Grizzly 399 and her cub Spirit caused some “bear jams” on the roads in Grand Teton National Park earlier this summer.

Grizzly 399 And Huge Cub Have Been “Elusive,” But Not Feared Dead Or Missing

Grizzly 399, Wyoming’s most beloved wildlife celebrity, and her huge cub Spirit have been “elusive” lately. But those who have closely followed her for years aren’t worried, at least not yet.

Mark HeinzSeptember 23, 2024

Karley and Craig Summit of Omaha, Nebraska, are the makers of the Squallet, a wallet made from a squirrel pelt, and other wildlife fur products. They have strong Wyoming connections and love hunting here.

The ‘Squallet’ Was Conceived In Wyoming; Its Makers Love Coming Back For Elk Hunts

The idea for 'squallets' — wallets made from dead squirrels — was conceived in Wyoming. Now it's a profitable business and the inventors, from Omaha, love coming back to the Cowboy State for elk hunts. They had their last successful hunt in Wyoming last weekend.

Mark HeinzSeptember 22, 2024

Morning Glory Pool Used To Be Brilliant Blue Until Tourists Ruined It

Morning Glory Pool near Old Faithful was once one of the most beautiful thermal pools in Yellowstone National Park. It was a brilliant clear blue, but lost its color after decades of tourists throwing stuff in it.

Andrew RossiSeptember 21, 2024

Brief: Man Survives Bear Attack In Glacier National Park, Then Walks A Mile To Helicopter

A 35-year-old man was attacked by a bear while hiking in Glacier National Park on Thursday. The injured man then walked a full mile to where a helicopter extricated him to safety.

Andrew RossiSeptember 21, 2024

Left: David Mercado of Casper loves going into Wyoming’s most remote wild places to hunt elk. His son, Gary Barkley (rear) frequently goes with him. Middle and right: David Mercado of Casper had to call in a rescue chopper for his friend Neil Richard of Texas, after Richard was bucked from his horse and suffered a broken femur while hunting elk in remote backcountry near Dubois.

Casper Man’s Elk Hunt From Hell: Broken Bones, Chopper Rescue And Grizzly Attack

A Casper man’s elk hunt in the Wyoming wilderness turned into the hunt from hell, including a broken leg, grizzly attack and runaway horses. But everybody made it out alive.

Mark HeinzSeptember 20, 2024

A female grizzly with three cubs showed up early Tuesday and again early Wednesday in the camp of bowhunter Bruce Cooper in the Wyoming Range – and these photos were captured on his security camera. He decided not to go back Thursday “because of safety concerns.”

For Grizzly Defense Handguns, Hunters Prefers Magnum Revolvers Or 10 mm Pistols

Opinions vary on what’s the best handgun to carry for grizzly defense in Wyoming. Magnum-caliber revolvers and 10 mm semiautomatic pistols seem to be the most popular with hunters.

Mark HeinzSeptember 19, 2024

A pair of white-tailed deer graze on sagebrush in this file photo.

Hunters Can Go After White-Tailed Deer On Elk Refuge Near Jackson

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department wants hunters to shoot more white-tailed deer in the Jackson area. That’s where whitetails compete with coveted mule deer herds.

Mark HeinzSeptember 19, 2024

Firefighting crews expect to achieve 100% containment on the Short Draw Fire on Friday, Sept. 19, 2024.

Five Homes, 31 Outbuildings Burned By Short Draw Fire

With 100% containment expected Friday, an inventory of what was lost to the Short Draw Fire is in — five homes and 31 outbuildings. The wildfire has burned about 35,000 acres in northern Wyoming and southern Montana.

Greg JohnsonSeptember 19, 2024

Chris Clemmens of Georgia has already been on one Wyoming elk hunt – through a program that allows Wyoming residents to donate their tags to disabled veterans. He can’t wait to come out again this year.

Purple Heart Army Vet Thrilled To Get Coveted Wyoming Elk Hunt

Chris Clemmens of Georgia is a decorated Army combat veteran who loves Wyoming. He's thrilled about an upcoming elk hunt here through a program that donates hunting tags to veterans.

Mark HeinzSeptember 18, 2024

Though he was struck by a car and severely injured a couple of years ago, a mule deer buck in Rock Springs that people call Steve the Survivor still loves hanging out with other deer and eating crabapples.

Rock Springs Loves Steve, A Mule Deer With Gnarled Antlers And Missing A Hoof

There’s a reason folks in Rock Springs, Wyoming, love a resident deer they call Steve the Survivor. With gnarled antlers and missing a hoof, Steve is “a symbol of perseverance,” says one local fan.

Mark HeinzSeptember 17, 2024

Rocky Mountain Grizzlies Keep Getting Shot By Bowhunters With Handguns

So far this archery hunting season, three grizzly bears have been shot — and two killed — by bowhunters wielding handguns in self-defense. Wildlife observers and hunters believe conflicts will escalate because of the popularity of bowhunting and the increasing numbers of bears.

Mark HeinzSeptember 17, 2024

An aerial view of the Short Draw Fire shows acres of black and burned wildland while a homestead that's been saved from the flames.

Short Draw Fire 65% Contained, But Igniting Underground Coal Seams

Wildland firefighting crews have gained 65% containment of the Short Draw Fire in northeast Wyoming and southern Montana. But they’re also now fighting coal seam fires ignited by the wildfire.

Greg JohnsonSeptember 17, 2024

With $2.7 Million In Donations, $28 Million Wildlife Crossing Near Dubois Closer To Reality

A much-anticipated wildlife crossing near Dubois is closer to reality now than $2.7 million has been raised in private donations. Hundreds of mule deer are killed each year on U.S. Highway 26. Construction on the $28 million project will begin in 2027.

Mark HeinzSeptember 17, 2024

Every year when a huge elk herd returns to Estes Park, Colorado, they make it their town.

It’s A Wonder More People Don’t Get Stomped By Estes Park’s Urban Elk

Estes Park, Colorado, is essentially an urban elk preserve. Locals love the huge herd of elk that takes over the town a couple times a year, but resent tourists acting like idiots and getting too close.

Mark HeinzSeptember 16, 2024

Sadie Swartzfager, 14, of Pennsylvania – in the orange hat – joined family and friends in celebrating getting her first elk in Wyoming.

Dying Pennsylvania Man’s Wish Was A Wyoming Elk And Deer Hunt For His Daughter

Dying from cancer, one of a Pennsylvania man’s last wishes was a first Wyoming elk and deer hunt for his 14-year-old daughter. Thanks to a Gillette-area Airbnb owner and outfitter, they got that dream hunt.

Mark HeinzSeptember 15, 2024

As evacuation orders are lifted, some people in the path of the Short Draw Fire are returning to find their homes gone. That was the case for Cheyenne and Jesse Raymond, who posted to Facebook about the devastation of finding their home had burned.

Families Devastated To Find Homes Burned As Short Draw Fire Evacuations Lifted

Evacuation orders in northern Wyoming and southern Montana have been lifted for folks in the path of the Short Draw Fire. But some families are devastated to find they no longer have homes to return to.

Greg JohnsonSeptember 15, 2024

Hoback is a moose that lives in Grand Teton National Park, and his fans say he’s the biggest bull moose in the park. He’s pictured here shedding the “velvet” (a natural growth membrane) from his antlers.

Videographer Catches Hoback, Teton Park’s Famously Huge Moose, Shedding Velvet

It took her six years, but a West Yellowstone photographer finally captured video of Hoback the moose shedding his antler velvet. Hoback is well-known, among wildlife photographers, as one of the largest bull moose in Grand Teton National Park.

Mark HeinzSeptember 14, 2024

Left: At just 13 years old, Russell Goolsbey of Powell did what many seasoned hunters only dream of, shooting a mountain goat in northwest Wyoming’s backcountry. Right: At just 12 years old, Rhett Goolsbey did what many seasoned hunters only dream of, shooting a bighorn ram in northwest Wyoming’s backcountry.

Draws Of A Lifetime: Powell Boys Get Sheep, Mountain Goat Tags On 1st, 2nd Tries

Some Wyoming hunters try for decades to draw hunting tags for bighorn sheep or mountain goats and still don’t get one. A pair of Powell farm boy had draws of a lifetime, each getting one — one on his first try and the other his second.

Mark HeinzSeptember 13, 2024

Page 36