Outdoors
News
Trump Administration Shuts Down Controversial Biden-Era Rock Springs Management Plan
Sweetwater County officials were thrilled at news that a controversial federal land management plan had been shut down by the Trump administration. Newly-appointed Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum made the decision late Wednesday.
Mark HeinzFebruary 06, 2025
Hunters Say Proposal To Take Away Hunting, Fishing Privileges For Trespass Is Draconian
A proposal to ban people from hunting and fishing anywhere in the country if they get caught trespassing in Wyoming goes overboard, some outdoorsmen said. Others say, the current law is too weak and stiffer penalties are needed.
February 05, 2025
Wyoming Game And Fish Director Says “Stars Are Aligned” For Grizzly Delisting
Wyoming Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce told legislators Tuesday that getting grizzlies delisted is a top priority for the agency. “I think the stars are aligned,” she said.
Mark HeinzFebruary 04, 2025
Angry Bison Charges Into Crowd Watching Wolf Pack In Yellowstone
As people gathered on a road in Yellowstone to watch a pack of wolves devour a bison, the buffalo’s herd charged into them last week. The stampede sent bundled-up tourists running off the road and behind vehicles for safety.
Andrew RossiFebruary 03, 2025
Sagebrush Murder Mystery Reveals Two Potential Killers Of Range Plant
In Montana’s Centennial Valley, a sagebrush die-off triggered an investigation into what was killing this anchor species of the open range. The killers turned out to be insects native to the sagebrush seas of the West.
David MadisonFebruary 02, 2025
Like Wolves, Wyoming’s Stray Cats Aren’t Protected From Torture
Wyoming’s stray cats could end up benefiting from a push to protect wolves from torture. Like wolves, they’re considered predators, and some advocate for controlling their numbers through spaying or neutering rather than shooting them.
Mark HeinzFebruary 02, 2025
How Grand Prismatic Spring Became Yellowstone's Social Media Darling
In two decades, Grand Prismatic Spring ascended from a beautiful backwater spot to the second most popular destination in Yellowstone National Park. Grand Prismatic’s profile has exploded as Yellowstone’s social media darling.
Andrew RossiFebruary 01, 2025
Tourist Visits Every Wyoming State Park In A Week: Here Are His Favorites
A tourist from Montana visited all 12 of Wyoming’s state parks in a whirlwind weeklong road trip last summer. He also hit all of Montana’s in 2023, and says Wyoming's are "higher quality, on average, in terms of scenery." Here are his favorites.
Anna-Louise Jackson for Cowboy State DailyFebruary 01, 2025
Apparently, Few Knew It’s Illegal To Blast Wyoming Prairie Dogs From A Vehicle
A Casper-area man said it took him by surprise to learn that shooting prairie dogs from a vehicle is illegal. Another avid hunter said he also didn’t know because it’s such a common practice in Wyoming.
Mark HeinzFebruary 01, 2025
Open Season On Wyoming Mountain Lions Would Be Overkill, Hunters Say
A proponent of an open season on mountain lions says a bill allowing year-round hunting would save Wyoming’s prized mule deer. But some mountain lion hunters argue it could wipe out the big cats.
Mark HeinzJanuary 29, 2025
Biggest Earthquake Since 2023 Rumbles Under Yellowstone, Felt 30 Miles Away
A magnitude 3.9 earthquake was measured near Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday evening. It's the largest earthquake in the park since March 2023 and felt 30 miles away.
Andrew RossiJanuary 29, 2025
Bill To Split Whitetail-Mule Deer Season Dies On Senate Floor
After another round of debate over whether to split hunting seasons for Wyoming’s white-tailed deer and mule deer, the latest effort to do so died on the Senate floor Monday.
Mark HeinzJanuary 28, 2025
Casper Turkeys Wear Out Their Welcome: 145 Removed So Far Through Trapping Program
If a trap-and-release program succeeds, Casper will no longer be wild turkey central. So far, 145 of the big, obnoxious birds have been caught and released back into the wild.
Mark HeinzJanuary 27, 2025
Allowing Landowners To Sell Hunting Tags Would Make Wyoming Wildlife Sport For The Rich, Opponents Say
A proposal to allow landowners to sell their hunting tags would make hunting in Wyoming the sport of kings, opponents say. It would amount to “nothing more than the exploitation and monetization of our wildlife resources," said Muley Fanatics Foundation CEO Josh Coursey.
Mark HeinzJanuary 27, 2025
Wyoming History: Afton's Snowplanes Skimmed Over A Snowy Yellowstone At 100 MPH With No Brakes
The CallAir snowplane, built in Afton, was a revolutionary vehicle. It made it possible to deliver mail, supplies and scientists across the snow-covered terrain of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks at 100 mph — with no brakes.
Andrew RossiJanuary 26, 2025
Being Hurt In The Middle Of Nowhere Can Be Deadly If You Don’t Know What To Do
Whether it’s a misguided hunting arrow, getting mauled by a grizzly or getting impaled on a tree branch, the wide-open spaces of Wyoming can be dangerous — if not downright deadly. One Wyoming group is dedicated to making sure people know what to do.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 25, 2025
With Trump Back In Office, Hageman Says Grizzly Delisting Back On The Table
Congresswoman Harriet Hageman and others say there’s a much better chance grizzlies will be delisted from endangered status with President Trump back in office. His pick for Interior secretary says “I’m with you” on delisting.
Mark HeinzJanuary 25, 2025
Bills Could Help Wyoming's Image After Wolf Abuse, Say Retired Wildlife Officers
In response to the abuse of a wolf near Daniel last year, Wyoming aims to outlaw allowing animals to suffer. Some retired wildlife officers say the state's image is still tarnished, and that running wolves down with snowmobiles should also be banned.
Mark HeinzJanuary 25, 2025
More Than Just Fishing Guides May Need To Be Regulated, Legislators Say
A bill calling for more regulation of fishing guides in Wyoming prompted a broader discussion about whether all forms of outdoor recreation need more oversight here -- including rock climbers, mountain bikers and others, legislators said Thursday.
Mark HeinzJanuary 24, 2025
Killing A Mouse In Your Truck Can Get You A Year In Jail In Wyoming
A Wyoming legislator wants to close some loopholes in Wyoming wildlife laws. That includes eliminating one that technically could get someone a year in jail and fined $10,000 for killing a mouse inside a vehicle.
Mark HeinzJanuary 24, 2025
Bill To Split Whitetail And Mule Deer Seasons Passes, But Some Hunters Not Sold
A bill that will split whitetail and mule deer seasons passed out of a legislative committee Tuesday. But some Wyoming hunters say that won’t help.
Mark HeinzJanuary 22, 2025
Bill Aims To Stop Wyoming’s Prime Trout Waters Getting Mobbed By Out-Of-Staters
Wyoming’s prime trout fishing spots are getting mobbed by out-of-staters. Backers of a bill said Tuesday it could stop that by restricting the number of boats allowed on prime sections of the state’s rivers.
Mark HeinzJanuary 21, 2025
3,600-Foot-Tall Undersea Volcano Expected To Blow This Year, But Nobody’s Worried
Axial Seamount is a young, 30 million-year-old undersea volcano in the Pacific Ocean off the U.S. coast, and it’s expected to blow this year. While “fascinating” and spectacular, nobody’s worried about it.
Andrew RossiJanuary 20, 2025
Ancient Ice Forests In Beartooth Mountains Give Up 6,000-Year-Old Secrets
Researchers are revealing the secrets of 6,000-year-old pine forests, preserved in ice patches in the Beartooth Mountains. These ice forests are giving up ancient secrets about the past — and future — of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Andrew RossiJanuary 19, 2025
“Grape Jelly” Blood Clots And Dismemberment Can Determine What Kills Wildlife
Investigating possible grizzly, wolf and lion kills can be a messy business. But there are vital clues in bloody, dismembered wildlife carcasses, experts say.
Mark HeinzJanuary 19, 2025
Yellowstone’s Beryl Springs Is Super-Hot, Ornery And Turns Stuff Blue
Beryl Spring, located between Mammoth Hot Springs and Madison Junction in Yellowstone National Park, was named for the stunning blue color of its boiling water. It’s also super-hot, ornery and turns the nearby boardwalk posts blue.
Andrew RossiJanuary 19, 2025
Snowmobilers Stoked Snow Is Finally Piling Up Around Wyoming
After a slow start to the snowmobiling season, with little of the white stuff in December, Wyoming snowmobilers are stoked it’s filing piling up. It’s good news for Cowboy State lodges, too.
Mark HeinzJanuary 18, 2025
Speedy, Beloved 24-Year-Old Yellowstone Sanctuary Bison, Dies
Speedy the bison died Thursday after spending 24 years as one of the best-known and beloved bison in the Greater Yellowstone Region. She was an animal ambassador at the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary in Red Lodge, Montana, since 2005.
Andrew RossiJanuary 17, 2025
Responding To Daniel Wolf Torture, Wyoming Hunters Back "Clean Kill Bill"
In response to the notorious case of a wolf being run over with a snowmobile and tortured, a bill before the Wyoming Legislature aims to make wildlife abuse a felony offence. It’s backed by a coalition of Wyoming hunters.
Mark HeinzJanuary 17, 2025
Wolves From Canada Arrive In Colorado, Nobody’s Saying Where They’ll Be Released
A group of wolves have been flown from Canada to Colorado for another round of reintroductions, which has been highly controversial. There’s no word yet on when and where they’ll be released.
Mark HeinzJanuary 13, 2025
24 Wyoming Firefighters On The Ground Battling California Fires, More On The Way
As of Monday, 24 Wyoming firefighters were in Southern California helping fire devastating wildfires that have killed at least 24 people. More Wyoming crews are set to join them soon.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 13, 2025
Bill Splitting Deer Seasons Would Just Get More Mule Deer Shot, Biologist Says
Advocates of legislative bill to split Wyoming hunting seasons for white-tailed and mule deer say it will help save mule deer. A retired wildlife biologist says that would just get more mule deer killed.
Mark HeinzJanuary 13, 2025
Getting Back To The Roots Of Hunting: Wyoming Man Tests Himself On Primitive Elk Hunt
A Wyoming hunter tested his ability to survive in the woods, taking only a recurve bow, two horses and a mule on a several-day hunt — but no food, water or matches. He lived off the land for days before bagging a bull elk.
Mark HeinzJanuary 12, 2025
60-Year-Old National Elk Refuge Visitor Center To Get A $39 Million Overhaul
If fundraising efforts come through, the 1960s-era visitor center at the National Elk Refuge near Jackson is going to get a huge $39 million overhaul. The refuge currently clocks about 500,000 visits each year and is expected to increase.
Anna-Louise Jackson for Cowboy State DailyJanuary 11, 2025
Hunters Wonder How Far Is Too Far To Shoot Big Game Using Technology
Some hunters claim that technology, such as rifles designed to shoot 1,000 yards or more, is ruining the sport. The issue has also sparked a debate about how ethical it is to shoot game from extreme distances.
Mark HeinzJanuary 11, 2025
30 Years Of Yellowstone Wolves: Feds Released Them In 1995 Without Telling Wyoming
30 years ago on Sunday, wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone. Then-Wyoming Gov Jim Geringer recalls former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt gave the state no notice and told him not to worry because the wolves would never leave the park.
Mark HeinzJanuary 11, 2025
Rescuers Risk Lives To Save Elk That Got Tangled In Rope On Colorado Cliffside
A young bull elk got its antlers tangled in a rope on a near-vertical hillside in Colorado last week, prompting a dangerous rescue attempt. Wildlife agents and a group of climbers risked their lives to save the animal.
Mark HeinzJanuary 10, 2025
In Brief: Wyoming Game And Fish Director Blasts Feds For Not Delisting Grizzlies
Wyoming Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce on Thursday blasted the Biden administration’s decision to not take grizzly bears off the endangered list. She said the feds are undermining the state’s bear management work.
Mark HeinzJanuary 09, 2025
Biden Won’t Delist Grizzlies; Gordon Blasts Decision As “Politics, Not Biology”
Grizzlies in the Lower 48 will remain under endangered species protection, federal officials announced Wednesday. Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon slammed the decision as a parting shot from the outgoing Biden administration, calling it “politics, not policy.”
Mark HeinzJanuary 08, 2025
Cheyenne Cutting Down More Cottonwood Trees But Locals Say There's Nothing Wrong With Them
The City of Cheyenne is at it again -- cutting down more of its Cottonwood trees. The city says they’ve been identified as “a hazard to the public,” but locals say there was nothing wrong with them.
Renée JeanJanuary 08, 2025
Owlmageddon! To Save Spotted Owls, Feds To Kill Nearly 500,000 Other Owls
To help save spotted owls, federal officials plan to kill nearly 500,000 of a similar species, barred owls. The barred owls are bigger and are hogging the spotted owls’ food, wildlife officials say.
Mark HeinzJanuary 08, 2025
Montana Sues To Reduce Number Of Bison In Yellowstone National Park By Half
Montana Gov. Gov. Greg Gianforte wants to throw out Yellowstone National Park’s new bison management plan and reduce the park’s bison’s population by half. He’s suing to make that happen, claiming Yellowstone is mismanaging its bison.
David MadisonJanuary 08, 2025
If Wyoming Grizzlies Are Delisted, They Won’t Be On Restaurant Menus
Grizzlies might soon be delisted from federal protection and hunted in Wyoming, but don’t expect grizzly steaks on the menu at your favorite restaurant. Selling wild game meat is illegal.
Mark HeinzJanuary 07, 2025
Mutant Blue-Eyed Wyoming Mule Deer Fawn With A Light Coat Causing A Stir
A mutant Wyoming mule deer with striking blue eyes and a light coat is causing a stirr among wildlife watchers. It's a rare animal, but appears to be healthy, wildlife observers say.
Mark HeinzJanuary 06, 2025
2024 Will Go Down As The “Year Of The Explosion” At Yellowstone National Park
The spectacular explosion of Black Diamond Pool was the most dramatic event of 2024 in Yellowstone National Park. Elsewhere, it was a pretty average year with nearly 1,200 earthquakes, 300-foot eruptions of Steamboat Geyser and Abyss Pool getting hotter.
Andrew RossiJanuary 06, 2025
Roadkill Lovers Using Tech So They Can Scoop Up & Eat
Fans of eating roadkill have created apps and social media alerts so as soon as roadkill is created, connoisseurs can go to the site, scoop up the remains and get them loaded up on a barbecue.
Mark HeinzJanuary 05, 2025
Tiny, Rare Wyoming Dog Tracks Down Elk For Hunters, Starred In TV Commercial
Mae, a tiny and rare Danish-Swedish farmdog from Cheyenne, tracks down elk and starred in a national TV commercial. She’s also one of only two of her breed known in Wyoming.
Mark HeinzJanuary 05, 2025
Where's The Snow? Cross-Country Skiers, Snowshoers Not Happy In Vedauwoo
There's not much snow at Vedauwoo in southeastern Wyoming, which is a drag for winter sports enthusiasts. But meteorologist Don Day says, if history is any guide, winter weather will soon bring snow to the area and the rest of the state.
Andrew RossiJanuary 05, 2025
Filtration Straws Are Good For Drinking From Rivers But Probably Not Raw Sewage
Specialized filtration straws allow people to drink safely from mountain streams, rivers, and lakes. Wyoming outdoorsmen told Cowboy State Daily they work great but don't recommend trying it on raw sewage.
Mark HeinzJanuary 04, 2025
New Study Shows Yellowstone Supervolcano Still Isn't Going To Blow Up Anytime Soon
A new study on the supervolcano percolating underneath Yellowstone National Park reaffirms it’s not about to blow and end humanity as we know it. It shows the magma deep underneath the park isn’t a very fluid situation.
Andrew RossiJanuary 04, 2025
Rare Whitetail-Mule Deer Fight Highlights Conflict Between Wyoming Species
A rare fight caught on video between a mule deer and whitetail buck highlights the conflict between the species in Wyoming.
Mark HeinzJanuary 03, 2025
Rare NYE Aurora Could Be Sign 2025 Will Be Another Epic Year For Northern Lights
Wyoming photographer Dave Bell spent New Year’s Eve watching some of Mother Nature’s fireworks. He captured the stunning reds and greens of a rare New Year's Eve aurora over Wyoming, a sign that 2025 could be even better than last year for auroras.
Andrew RossiJanuary 02, 2025
Once Just A Problem For Deer, Deadly CWD Now Might Explode In Wyoming Elk Herds
Chronic wasting disease has been a problem for deer herds in Wyoming. Now that it’s been found in an elk in the Jackson area, hunters might have to get used to it being everywhere.
Mark HeinzJanuary 01, 2025
Bigfoot Hunters Die Searching For Sasquatch In Washington Forest
Two men died looking for bigfoot in a remote part of Washington state, sparking a three-day search and rescue effort. A Wyoming archaeology professor says their deaths were in vain because the creatures have never been proven to exist.
Mark HeinzJanuary 01, 2025
Wyoming Fisherman Camped On Ice Wakes Up To Find He Drifted Away After Ice Broke
An ice fisherman camping on Ocean Lake in Fremont County was stranded after a section of ice broke off Saturday. He drifted into the lake only to wake up hundreds of yards from shore.
Mark HeinzDecember 31, 2024
Wyoming Moose Fear Wolves, But Coastal Moose Have To Watch Out For Killer Whales
In Wyoming, moose worry about wolves and grizzlies. In coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, moose have to look out to keep from being eaten by killer whales.
Mark HeinzDecember 30, 2024
From Above, Aftermath Of Devastating 100,000-Acre Elk Fire Looks Worse
The Elk Creek Fire burned nearly 100,000 acres across the eastern face of the Bighorn Mountains this fall, threatening several small Wyoming towns. While early evaluations suggest the damage is mostly superficial, from above it looks devastating.
Andrew RossiDecember 28, 2024
Californians Freak Out Over Meat-Eating Squirrels, But They’ve Always Been Cannibals
A recent report about meat-eating ground squirrels has freaked out Californians, but it’s really nothing new. In Wyoming, the burrowing rodents are notorious for cannibalism.
Mark HeinzDecember 28, 2024
Yellowstone’s Famed One-Eyed Wolf 907F Dies After Fight With Rival Pack
After living triple the average wolf’s lifespan, Yellowstone National Park’s famed Wolf 907F died Christmas Day. She succumbed to injuries she suffered in a fight with other wolves a few days earlier.
Mark HeinzDecember 28, 2024
No Limits On Fish Gobbling Up Prized Flaming Gorge Kokanee Salmon
It’s open season on small lake trout and burbot in Flaming Gorge Reservoir as Wyoming Game and Fish officials have put no limits on both species. That’s because they’re gobbling up the reservoir’s prized kokanee salmon.
Mark HeinzDecember 26, 2024
Cutting Your Own Tree Doesn’t Have To Be A “Christmas Vacation” Experience
Going out into the woods to cut your own Christmas tree is a time-honored Wyoming tradition. The Williams family of Laramie has been doing it for years, and it’s not a “Christmas Vacation” experience.
Mark HeinzDecember 24, 2024
Escape From Chicago: Wyoming Firearms Founder Makes World’s Most Powerful AR-Style Rifle
Greg Buchel was born and raised in Chicago but “escaped Illinois” to move to Wyoming and founded Big Horn Armory which touts its AR500 as the world’s most powerful AR-style rifle. Buchel says it will down anything from "pachyderms to Peterbilts."
Mark HeinzDecember 24, 2024
Sweetwater County Clings To Hope Congress Will Kill Controversial BLM Plan
Sweetwater County officials say they feel in limbo at the center of a controversial BLM plan to manage 3.6 million acres of federal land in Wyoming. Their best hope to kill the plan now sit with Congress.
Mark HeinzDecember 23, 2024
BLM Plans To Round Up Extremely Rare Wyoming Curly-Haired Mustangs
Vast stretches of harsh desert near Rock Springs are among the few places in the world where mustangs with curly coats can be found, but the Bureau of Land Management plans to round them up, which has horse advocates upset.
Mark HeinzDecember 22, 2024
Yes, Bears Falling Out Of Trees And Killing People Is A Real Thing
A Virginia man was killed when a bear another hunter shot tumbled out of a tree and landed on him. A veteran Wyoming predator hunter said the danger posed by large animals falling out of trees is a real thing.
Mark HeinzDecember 19, 2024
What3Words Claims To Be The Best Rescue App Ever, But Misses In Wyoming
A new app maps out the entire world into 3-yard squares and assigns three words to identify each square. It’s wildly popular with some emergency responders and is growing a base, but Wyoming rescue pros aren’t sold.
Mark HeinzDecember 18, 2024
Story Of Birdshot Dropping Charging Grizzly Seems Unbelievable, Wyoming Hunters Say
A Montana man once stopped a charging grizzly bear with a load of birdshot from a .410 shotgun. That seems unbelievable to Wyoming hunters because of the gun’s relatively weak stopping power.
Mark HeinzDecember 18, 2024
Shooting Drones Is Illegal, But A Shotgun Would Work Best If You Must
We're not recommending anyone shoot down a drone. That's illegal in Wyoming. But if someone needed to, a shotgun would be the right weapon, gun experts say.
Mark HeinzDecember 16, 2024
Man-Made Nests Could Protect Eagles From Getting Slaughtered By Wind Turbines
With too many golden eagles getting slaughtered by wind turbines in central and southeast Wyoming, it’s hoped man-made nests can help. They create a safe haven for the raptors away from wind farms.
Mark HeinzDecember 16, 2024
Forget About Silencers, People Are Putting ‘Loudeners’ On Their Guns
“Loudeners," or devices that increase a gun's noise and concussion, have a fan base. But some Wyoming shooters say there's no reason for them and loundeners are just stupid.
Mark HeinzDecember 14, 2024
As Out-Of-Staters Mob Wyoming’s Prime Fishing Spots, Some Want To Regulate Guides
Out-of-staters are taking advantage of Wyoming’s loose regulations for fishing guides and crowding the state’s prime waters, say backers of a bill that would change that.
Mark HeinzDecember 13, 2024
Ranchers Skeptical Range Riders Will Save Colorado Livestock From Wolves
As Colorado prepares to release more wolves, the state will use range riders to help protect livestock. Unless they’re allowed to kill interloping wolves, ranchers are skeptical range riders could make a difference.
Mark HeinzDecember 13, 2024
1540s Bronze Cannon Dug Up In Arizona Is The Oldest Gun Ever Found In The U.S.
A nearly 500-year-old bronze cannon used by Spanish conquistadors was recently unearthed in Arizona, making it the oldest firearm ever found in the continental U.S. It’s also more than 200 years older than the first guns in Wyoming.
Mark HeinzDecember 12, 2024
Some Eagles' Nests Weigh More Than 1,000 Pounds & Can Fit Several People
Eagles’ nests are huge, sometimes weighing more 1,000 pounds, and it takes generations of the raptors to build them. The most colossal ones can be big enough to seat several people inside.
Mark HeinzDecember 12, 2024
Top Bear Biologist Argues For More Grizzlies; Wants Them To Roam Freely All Over The West
A top bear biologist is arguing against delisting grizzlies from federal protection and hunting them. Instead, he says there should be more — a “meta-population” of grizzlies from Canada to the southern end of Yellowstone National Park.
Mark HeinzDecember 11, 2024
Feds Under Deadline To Decide On Delisting Grizzlies By Jan. 20
A judge’s order has ratcheted up the pressure on federal officials to decide whether Wyoming’s grizzlies should be delisted. Montana and Idaho are clamoring for delisting as well, with a Jan. 20 deadline looming.
Mark HeinzDecember 11, 2024
Ethyl, The Grizzly That Wandered 5,000 Miles, Was Likely Trying To Get Back Home
Grizzlies are known to wander, but one named Ethyl took it to the next level, logging 5,000 miles wandering across Montana and Idaho.
Mark HeinzDecember 10, 2024
Area Where Lewis And Clark Once Camped Could Be Montana’s Next State Park
A 109-acre piece of land north of Lewistown could become Montana’s next state park. It holds historic significance as a spot where Lewis and Clark once camped in 1805.
Anna-Louise Jackson for Cowboy State DailyDecember 09, 2024
Despite What Wildlife Experts Say, Wyoming Has Plenty Of Opossums -- And They Reek
Cowboy State Daily readers reached out to us -- en masse -- to tell us although there may not be an "official" opossum population in Wyoming, they're here and there are a lot of them. And, as a bonus, they really stink.
Mark HeinzDecember 08, 2024
Made In Wyoming: Gunsmith Gets Back To Basics Making Custom “Scout Rifles”
With the hunting rifle world increasingly dominated by magnum-caliber, extreme-range rifles, semiautomatics and super-powered scopes, a Sheridan gunmaker hopes to carve out his niche with compact, handy “scout rifles.”
Mark HeinzDecember 08, 2024
Stone Age People Could Easily Hunt Packing A Baby, Wyoming Anthropologist Finds
Taking your toddler hunting is nothing new in Wyoming, or in human history for that matter. A University of Wyoming anthropologist says there's evidence that stone-age hunters took their kids hunting with them.
Mark HeinzDecember 07, 2024
Want To Buy A Wild Bison? Wyoming State Parks Is Selling 15
For the person who has everything, Wyoming State Parks is selling 15 wild bison. They’re huge, healthy and as close to genetically pure wild bison as is possible. They’re also available to the highest bidders.
Jackie DorothyDecember 07, 2024
Lodges That Let People "Sleep With The Wolves" A Bad Idea, Wyoming Wildlife Experts Say
A wildlife preserve in Canada has lodges where visitors have only a pane of glass between them and a pack of wolves. Billed as a chance to “sleep with the wolves,” Wyoming wildlife officials say it’s a terrible idea.
Mark HeinzDecember 07, 2024
Canadian Man Severely Mauled After Jumping On Polar Bear To Save Wife
A Canadian man was severely mauled on Monday after jumping on a polar bear that was attacking his wife. His heroics are similar to how a Wyoming wrestler saved a friend by jumping on a grizzly bear in 2022.
Mark HeinzDecember 06, 2024
Wyoming Has Plenty Of Elk, But Hunters Aren’t Finding Them This Year
Even though parts of Wyoming have more elk than ever, hunters are reporting a poor season this year. Warm weather and the aftermath of massive wildfires are likely to blame.
Mark HeinzDecember 05, 2024
Work To Start On $37 Million Wildlife Crossing Project in Southwest Wyoming
A $37 million wildlife crossing project on U.S. 189 in southwest Wyoming is on track to begin construction next year. The project will add five underpasses, one overpass and fencing improvements along a 30-mile stretch of highway.
Justin GeorgeDecember 04, 2024
Snowmobiler Stranded Alone In Wyoming’s Snowy Range Found Cold, But OK
A snowmobiler broke down near Silver Lake in the Snowy Range of southern Wyoming on Monday, sparking an urgent search. Search and rescue responders found the rider huddled in a bathroom at a scenic turnout — cold, but otherwise OK.
Justin GeorgeDecember 03, 2024
App Aims To Keep Tourists From Getting Mauled When Taking Selfies With Wildlife
The Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board is trying to keep tourists in Wyoming from getting gored and mauled by wildlife. Its Selfie Control Instagram app tells people when they’re too close for photos.
Mark HeinzDecember 02, 2024
Hunter Baffled By Elk’s Weirdly Deformed Hooves
A Colorado hunter killed a cow elk last week that looked normal and healthy — except for some weirdly deformed hooves. Biologists say the elk is not a mutant, but the bizarre hoof deformities mirror the effects of an elk disease that’s spreading in other states.
Mark HeinzDecember 01, 2024
Critics Say Unchecked Traps Killing Wyoming Mountain Lions, Pets
Some claim traps should be checked more often to save pets and wildlife that get caught in them. But one experienced trapper says they already do that, and freeing a mistakenly trapped grizzly isn’t a DIY job.
Mark HeinzDecember 01, 2024
Wyoming Isn't Known For Having Opossums But It's Got At Least One
Wyoming doesn’t have a known wild opossum population, but that could change as two neighboring states have them -- Nebraska and Colorado. One showed up in Pine Bluffs last week and seems to have a fondness for cat food.
Mark HeinzNovember 30, 2024
No, You Can’t Make Wild Turkeys In Sheridan And Casper Your Thanksgiving Dinner
Mobs of wild urban turkeys in Sheridan and Casper, Wyoming, can be thankful they’re not on the Thanksgiving menu. It’s illegal to hunt turkeys in those cities, although that could change in Sheridan.
Mark HeinzNovember 28, 2024
Bear Caught On Video Trying To Eat Colorado Couple's Ring Camera
An Estes Park, Colorado, couple got to see the inside of a bear’s mouth the safe way last week — when it tried eating one of their nine Ring cameras. They've caputured lots of wildlife on the cameras, including an elk sneezing on one.
Mark HeinzNovember 27, 2024
Those Who Shoot Their Own Wild Turkeys Know They’re Nothing Like Store-Bought
Those who shoot their own Wyoming wild turkeys for their Thanksgiving table know two things. There are a lot of them out there, and they’re nothing like the mass-produced, flash-frozen birds from the supermarket.
Jackie DorothyNovember 27, 2024
Spot Near Grand Teton Is A Moose Magnet, But Too Many People Could Ruin It
If you want to see a moose, there's a spot near Kelly, Wyoming, that draws a ton of them during the early winter. It's so popular that locals are worried that the area will be discovered and ruined by the gawking humans.
Mark HeinzNovember 25, 2024
Polish Army Fought Alongside 600-Pound Bear Who Liked Booze & Cigarettes In World War II
As a Polish war unit prepared to enter the war zone in Italy in 1943, they hit a snag because animals were not allowed to accompany troops into battle but they got around that rule. They officially enlisted the bear as a private, giving him a salary and a serial number.
Mark HeinzNovember 24, 2024
Australian Woman Hiking Through Wyoming On Quest To Walk Length Of The Earth
Australian Lucy Barnard is walking 18,000 miles from the tip of South America to the top of North America to become the first woman to walk the length of the earth. She’s now in Wyoming, getting to Lander after hiking across the Red Desert.
Jackie DorothyNovember 24, 2024
Fierce Loyalty Of Wyoming’s Wolf Packs Make It Easier To Track Them
Wyoming's 350 wolves are scattered among 30 packs, raising the question of how those wolves, packs and pack membership are tracked. It's quite simple. They don't veer outside their packs. They live and die with the packs they were born into.
Mark HeinzNovember 23, 2024
No More Free-Range Pooping: Human-Poop Bags At Hiking Trailheads Are A Thing Now
“Sustainable pooping” has become an outdoors recreation catchphrase, with people expected to pack their own human waste out in plastic bags. Kiosks with these human-poop bags are popping up along popular hiking trails, like Mount Elbert in Colorado.
Mark HeinzNovember 22, 2024
If Wyoming Grizzlies Make It To Utah, They’ll Probably Get Sent Back
While it’s almost certain that Wyoming grizzlies will eventually migrate into Utah, they won’t be welcome to stay there. Unlike Wyoming, Utah does not have a sustainable habitat for grizzly bears.
Mark HeinzNovember 22, 2024
After Colorado Wolf Found With Bullet Wound, Group Puts Up $50K In Rewards
After a bullet wound was found in a wolf carcass in Colorado, a conservation group has set up a $50,000 reward fund for tips about illegal wolf killings.
Mark HeinzNovember 20, 2024
One Way To Scare Grizzlies Away: Yell At Them Over Drone Speakers
Montana wildlife officials have been yelling at prairie grizzlies through the speakers on drones to scare the bears away from people. But that doesn’t always work, like the Colorado black bear who didn’t budge when blasted with heavy metal music.
Mark HeinzNovember 19, 2024
Wyoming Coyotes And Badgers Will Team Up To Hunt Prairie Dogs
Coyotes and badgers in Wyoming will team up to hunt prairie dogs. Badgers dig into the rodents’ dens, while the coyotes wait at the exit to snatch any varmints trying to escape.
Mark HeinzNovember 18, 2024
Wyoming Hotshot’s Photographs Give Rare Behind-The-Scenes Look At Wildfires
Wyoming Hotshot Capt. Kyle Miller’s photographs are on display at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody in a new exhibition. His stunning images give a rare behind-the-scenes look at wildfires and the people who fight them.
Amber SteinmetzNovember 17, 2024
Winter Storm Drives 150 Antelope To Their Deaths, Including 53 From One Truck Accident
150 antelope were killed earlier this week when a winter storm blasted eastern Colorado with snow and sent the animals onto the highways. That includes 53 antelope which were plowed down in a single accident.
Mark HeinzNovember 16, 2024
After 7 Weeks And 100,000 Acres Burned, Elk Fire Is 100% Contained
After more than seven weeks, the Elk Fire is officially 100% contained. The late-season wildfire scorched nearly 100,000 acres in the Bighorn Mountains and came close to burning the rural towns of Dayton and Parkman.
Greg JohnsonNovember 15, 2024
Fight Over Prime Wyoming Hunting Land Exchange Headed To Federal Court
A legal fight is brewing over a U.S. Forest Service land exchange that would take a "hunter's paradise" parcel in Wyoming's Laramie Range out of public use. Opponents of the swap filed a court petition to stop it this week and are threatening a lawsuit.
Mark HeinzNovember 14, 2024
Colorado Says If You See A Deer In The Road, Hit It. Don’t Try To “Save Bambi”
If a deer jumps out in front of your vehicle on the road, Colorado officials say it could be best to just hit it. Swerving to try and “save Bambi” could lead to even more tragic results.
Mark HeinzNovember 14, 2024