Outdoors

This year's Hell on Reels Fishing Tournament at Flaming Gorge Reservoir has been canceled.

Fishing Tournament Canceled After Years Of Mismanaging Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Organizers Say

Organizers of the Hell on Reels Fishing Tournament at Flaming Gorge say mismanagement of the reservoir has led to a “collapse” of the fishery and cancellation of the annual tournament.

June 08, 2023

The National Park Service is investigating this incident of two men with cellphones approaching and touching a baby bison in Grand Teton National Park on Sunday.

Grand Teton Officials Search For Visitors Who Harassed Baby Bison

Authorities in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park announced Thursday they're looking for two men who illegally approached and harassed a bison calf on Sunday.

Leo WolfsonJune 08, 2023

U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colorado, addresses the “Crisis on the Colorado River” conference in Boulder via Zoom on Thursday.

Wyoming Can’t Take Blame For Colorado River Shortages, Expert Says

Wyoming and other upper basin states shouldn’t be left holding the bag as demand for water from the Colorado river continues to outpace supply, says a water scientist.

Mark HeinzJune 08, 2023

A series of images from a viral video shows a man get out of his vehicle when he spots a bear, then he yells at it as he charges the bear. The bewildered bruin ambles off into the brush, then the man celebrates.

Yellowstone Officials Still Looking For Man Who Chased And Harassed Bears

Officials are continuing the search for a man who was caught on video chasing and harassing bears while reportedly in Yellowstone National Park.

Mark HeinzJune 07, 2023

Fishing along the North Platte River in central Wyoming has already been good this spring.

Wyoming’s ‘Miracle Mile,’ Other Sections Of North Platte Living Up To World-Class Fishing Rep

While Wyoming’s smaller creeks and streams might still be overflowing and dirty from a huge runoff, fishing along the North Platte River in central Wyoming is fantastic, an expert angler says.

Mark HeinzJune 07, 2023

Fighting Western Wildfires From The Air Could Massacre Fish In High-Population States

Some are claiming air-dropped wildfire retardant has been ineffective and deadly to fish in California and the Northwest, but when used sparingly in Wyoming, it’s helped save cabins and other structures from fires.

Mark HeinzJune 06, 2023

Cowboy State Daily outdoors reporter Mark Heinz gives "Robo-Bear" a snootful of bear spray during a demonstration in Lander over the weekend.

Facing Off Against Wyoming’s Dreaded ‘Robo Bear’ Is Trickier Than You Might Think

Cowboy State Daily outdoors reporter Mark Heinz and columnist Bill Sniffin survived grizzly attacks this weekend — sort of. They faced off against Wyoming’s dreaded robotic grizzly bear.

Mark HeinzMay 22, 2023

Is Yellowstone’s ‘Zone Of Death’ The Ideal Place To Get Away With Murder?

It's technically possible to get away with murder in Yellowstone National Parks infamous Zone of Death, enough so that it's the basis for a novel by Wyoming author C.J. Box. But legal experts say it's not a good idea to test the theory.

Mark HeinzJanuary 17, 2023

Man Who Invented "Grizzly-Proof Suit" Unfortunately Blew Up Before He Tested It

A man who survived being shot, impaled, and hit by a moving truck all while wearing a 150-pound grizzly-proof suit -- which he invented -- never lived to see it take off. Unfortunately, he blew up.

Mark HeinzDecember 16, 2022

Brady Lowry, left, and Kendell Cummings together after they were attacked and mauled by a grizzly on Oct. 5, 2022.

Wyoming Hero: College Wrestler Jumps On Grizzly To Save Friend

I could hear when his teeth would hit my skull, Kendall Cummings told Cowboy State Daily on Monday. Kendall tried to physically pull a grizzly off his teammate Brady Lowry on Saturday and paid dearly for it. Lowry says his friend saved his life.

Leo WolfsonOctober 17, 2022

Yellowstone Not Hosting Race Against Bears On Motorized Coolers Again This Year

After causing an outcry of concern last year when people thought a fictitious race against bears on motorized coolers was really going to happen, "race officials" have announced they're hosting the event again. This year, however, participants are required to carry rotten trout with them on the coolers.

Jimmy OrrJune 07, 2023

Doug Boykin and his sons guide hound hunts for mountain lions and bears in Wyoming and Arizona.

Veteran Wyoming Houndsman Brings Back Puppies For Young Hunters

Doug Boykin said he is deeply grateful for his experiences growing up and running hunting hounds in the Encampment, Wyoming, area. Now he’s giving back by giving away hound dog puppies to kids who ask for them.

Mark HeinzJune 06, 2023

These images for a video show a man charging at a bear in Yellowstone, then flexing after the bear ambles off.

Yellowstone Investigating Unknown Man Who Jumps Out Of Car To Harass Bears

A man who has been recorded numerous times jumping out of a car and running after bears in Yellowstone has not yet been identified, but Yellowstone authorities are trying to track him down.

Mark HeinzJune 05, 2023

Grizzly 399 and her 2023 cub were spotted for the first time in 2023 on May 16. (Photo is owned by Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven and may not be reproduced)

Garth Brooks To Narrate TV Show About Grand Teton National Park And Grizzly 399 This Week

The first episode of National Geographic's second season of "America's National Parks" will focus on Grand Teton National Park and Grizzly 399. Garth Brooks is the executive producer and narrator of the series, which debuts this week.

Jimmy OrrJune 05, 2023

A search and rescue operation from the Jenny Lake Rescue Cache near Lupine Meadows in this file photo.

Being Rescued In The Wyoming Backcountry Is Free — Unless You Need Life Flight

Basic backcountry search and rescue services will continue to be free in Wyoming, but calling for Life Flight services can still pile up big bills for folks pulled out of the backcountry.

Mark HeinzJune 05, 2023

Wyoming bird watchers can keep their eyes open for crowned sparrows, left, and the state bird, the western meadowlark, right.

Plenty For Wyoming Bird-Watchers To See Even If Some Arriving Later Than Usual

Wyoming bird watchers report a few oddball visitors like the golden-winged warbler in Lander, but lots of the usual favorites, like mountain bluebirds, are home for the summer.

Renée JeanJune 04, 2023

These images from a video posted to the Everest Today Twitter feed show how Mount Everest has turned into what some are calling "the world's highest garbage dump."

Everest A ‘Garbage Dump’ During Deadliest Season Ever, Says Wyoming Climber Who Was There

Mount Everest has become a crowded garbage dump and graveyard, says a Wyoming mountaineer who attempted to summit the peak last month. He’s not sure when he’ll go back.

Mark HeinzJune 03, 2023

These tired and scared deer couldn't get out of this canal about 50 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona. When state wildlife officials couldn't get them out, they called in a couple of cowboys, who safely lassoed them.

After Wildlife Officers Couldn’t Rescue Deer From Canal, Cowboys Did The Job

It’s no surprise to veteran Wyoming cowboy Kevin Meyer that it took two Arizona buckaroos to rescue mule deer stranded in a canal, after wildlife officers had run out of options.

Mark HeinzJune 02, 2023

Samantha Strable, formerly of Pinedale, put out a call on social media, asking Sublette County residents if they could spare meat for her bear bait barrel, left. When she’s not hunting abroad, Strable said she enjoys Wyoming outings for species such as mule deer.

She Killed A Feral Pig With A Knife; Now Pinedale Woman Wants To Bag A Wyoming Bear

After bowhunting red stag in Chile and killing a pig with a knife in New Zealand, Samantha Strable of Pinedale said her next goal is bagging a Wyoming black bear.

Mark HeinzJune 01, 2023

Restrictions on pistol braces went into effect Thursday.

As Pistol Brace Ban Begins, Wyoming Gun Owners Urged To Lawyer Up

Court Injunctions against federal restrictions on pistol braces that went into effect Thursday apply only to certain people. Everybody else should get a lawyer, a Wyoming Second Amendment rights activist says.

Mark HeinzJune 01, 2023

Yellowstone National Park officials say this visitor responsible for the death of a bison in the park has been prosecuted and fined.

Hawaiian Tourist Pleads Guilty To Trying To 'Rescue' Bison Which Later Was Euthanized In Yellowstone

A tourist from Hawaii pleaded guilty on Wednesday to trying to 'save' a baby bison in Yellowstone. Park officials later had to euthanize the bison because of the man's actions.

Jake NicholsJune 01, 2023

Guy Eastman of Powell dropped this Boone and Crocket record book-sized trophy antelope buck near Wamsutter last fall. The current winterkill in that area is so bad, it could be years before hunters get any more such opportunities, he said.

As Herds Reel From Winterkill, Drought And Even Brain Worms, Neighboring States Join Wyoming In Slashing Hunting Tags

Wyoming isn’t the only state that suffered heavy wildlife winterkill and has cut hunting tags. Neighboring states are doing it too, also citing drought and brain worms.

Mark HeinzMay 31, 2023

Still Too Early To Know If Dismissal Of Wyoming ‘Corner-Crossing’ Lawsuit A Victory For Public Land Access

Some Wyomingites with a stake in the outcome of the Elk Mountain “corner-crossing” lawsuit are lukewarm to its outcome in the hunters’ favor, saying the issue is still likely to drag on in the courts.