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Boysen Reservoir in Fremont County, Wyoming, on Sunday Feb 15, 2026. Inset: Person in Darth Vader costume

Wild: Ice Cracking On Wyoming Reservoir Sounds Like A ‘Star Wars’ Laser Gunfight

About midmorning on Sunday, as the temperature crept above freezing, the ice sheet on Boysen Reservoir started making sounds like something out of a science fiction movie. Scientists say the otherworldly noises come from ice cracking under warming temperatures.

Mark HeinzFebruary 16, 2026

Animal rights activists in Oregon are pushing a ballot initiative that would effectively ban hunting, fishing and ranching. Should it pass, one Oregon resident said there aren’t enough prisons in the country to hold all the “lawbreakers” it would create.

Oregon Animal Rights Activists Push To Basically Ban Hunting, Fishing, Ranching

Animal rights activists in Oregon are pushing a ballot initiative that would effectively ban hunting, fishing and ranching. Should it pass, one Oregon resident said there aren’t enough prisons in the country to hold all the “lawbreakers” it would create.

Mark HeinzFebruary 15, 2026

WolfQuest is a computer game in which people create their own wolf characters in a virtual Yellowstone National Park and try to find prey while avoiding fights with other wolves or being shot by hunters.

Hundreds Of Thousands Pretend They're Yellowstone Wolves In Online Game ‘WolfQuest’

Every day some 5,000 people worldwide are playing the online game WolfQuest. That's where you become a wolf in Yellowstone and do everything wolves do like kill elk, avoid being shot, and fight with other wolves.

Mark HeinzFebruary 14, 2026

Valentine Geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park unexpectedly sprang to life again with 13 documented eruptions in 2025. It's the first eruptions for the lovingly-named geyser in 20 years.

Yellowstone's Valentine Geyser Lovingly Erupts For The First Time In 21 Years

Valentine Geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park unexpectedly sprang to life again with 13 documented eruptions in 2025. It's the first eruptions for the lovingly-named geyser in 21 years.

Andrew RossiFebruary 14, 2026

Attorney Ryan Semerad testifies during a House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee meeting listening to testimony about corner-crossing on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.

Camo-Clad Hunters Show Up In Force To Support Legalizing Wyoming Corner-Crossing

In a room packed with camouflage-clad hunters, a legislative committee voted Thursday to forward a bill that would officially make corner-crossing legal in Wyoming.

Mark HeinzFebruary 13, 2026

Sen. Tim French, R-Powell, who supports landowner tag sales, told Cowboy State Daily that the matter isn’t going away. FILE PHOTO

Senate Soundly Rejects Landowner Hunting Tag Sales As Supporters Vow To Try Again

A bill that would have allowed the sale of landowner hunting tags was soundly rejected for introduction to the Wyoming Senate. Hunters hailed it as a victory while Sen. Tim French, a vocal supporter, vowed to bring it back.

Mark HeinzFebruary 10, 2026

Ride Another Day 16 x 9

Lack Of Snowflakes Haven’t Discouraged Wyoming Ski Season Pass Holders

By and large, skiers know the drill: Purchase a season pass, take a gamble on the weather. Ski areas famously have policies against refunds because of unseasonable weather. And season pass holders in Wyoming are taking it in stride, at least so far.

Kate MeadowsFebruary 09, 2026

The horror-comedy movie "Sharktana" begins shooting at the Lost Horse Lodge in Montana on Monday. The movie is about warm temperatures melting ice that held sharks frozen in a remote cave. One shark has already gotten loose and gone on a feeding frenzy.

Sharktana: Movie About Frozen Sharks Coming To Life On Ski Slopes Begins Filming

The horror-comedy movie "Sharktana" begins filming at the Lost Horse Lodge in Montana on Monday. The movie is about warm temperatures melting ice that held sharks frozen in a remote cave. One shark has already gotten loose and gone on a feeding frenzy.

Anna-Louise JacksonFebruary 09, 2026

Roughly 2,000 mule deer will be gunned down on Catalina Island off the southern California Coast, if all goes as planned. Animal rights groups and hunters are united in opposing the massacre.

How To Unite Hunters & Animal Rights Groups? Announce Plans To Gun Down 2,000 Mule Deer

It's not often when animal rights groups and hunters agree on something. But in the case of the plan to gun down 2,000 mule deer on Catalina Island off the coast of southern California, it's happening. The two are teaming up to stop the massacre.

Mark HeinzFebruary 09, 2026

Mink might look cute in photos, but they are swift, clever and deadly predators, taking down critters bigger than themselves — like muskrats. They call Wyoming home, but are elusive and seldom seen.

Wyoming Wildlife: Mink Are Seldom Seen, Look Friendly, But Are Deadly Predators

Mink might look cute in photos, but they aren't very nice. They are fast, clever and deadly predators, taking down critters bigger than themselves — like muskrats. They call Wyoming home, but are elusive and seldom seen.

Mark HeinzFebruary 09, 2026

During the winter, the Wyoming Game and Fish contracts with helicopter companies and pilots to capture and transport bighorn sheep and animals for research.

Blindfolded Wyoming Bighorns Ride Helicopters For Research

Until about March, folks might see blindfolded bighorn sheep or deer flying around, slung in harnesses under helicopters. They aren’t being nabbed by well-equipped poachers but are transported for population studies, disease testing and other research.

Mark HeinzFebruary 08, 2026

A growing wildfire just south of Riverton reported Saturday afternoon has jumped the Wind River and has prompted an immediate evacuation order for residents in its path. The fire is well over 100 acres and in an area near houses.

Riverton Residents In Path Of Growing Wildfire Ordered To Leave

A growing wildfire just south of Riverton reported Saturday afternoon has jumped the Wind River and has prompted an immediate evacuation order for residents in its path. The fire is well over 100 acres and in an area near houses.

Greg JohnsonFebruary 08, 2026

Wyoming outdoorsman Guy Eastman says that hunting trophy-sized animals puts the hunters’ skills and abilities to the test.

Why The Outrage Over Trophy Hunting?

"Trophy hunting" has become a loaded term as the possible delisting of Wyoming’s grizzlies looms. Hunters say it represents the pinnacle of their sport. Critics say it’s all about ego.

Mark HeinzFebruary 06, 2026

Wildlife photographer Marcela Herdova loves the remote areas of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.

Photographer Who Broke Leg In Remote Area Of Yellowstone, Is Grateful She Wasn't Alone

A wildlife photographer who broke her leg in a remote area of Yellowstone last Sunday said it taught her the importance of not venturing out alone, especially in areas without cellular service. Her companion was able to get her back to their car safely.

Mark HeinzFebruary 05, 2026

Rendering of 18-foot clay prototype shown at the 399 monument installation site at the National Museum of Art

Gigantic Grizzly 399 Sculpture To Be Dedicated At Jackson Museum In September

The world-famous Grizzly 399 and her four cubs will be honored with a larger-than-life bronze sculpture at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson. The piece by sculptor Jocelyn Russell will be dedicated on Sept. 9, 2026.

Andrew RossiFebruary 05, 2026

Groundhog 2 4 26

Wyoming Chef Says The Best Way To Cook Groundhog Is With A Pork Rub

Groundhogs don't have to be just ceremonial animals that allegedly predict when spring arrives. They can be good eating too. One of Wyoming’s top chefs says groundhog is best when cooked in a smoker with a pork rub.

Mark HeinzFebruary 04, 2026

Delisting grizzlies could be imminent, hunting advocates say, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers regulations for bear hunting. They say pushing the deadline for the agency's decision on bears to December could be a step toward delisting.

Feds Pushing Grizzly Rules To December Could Be Step Toward Delisting

Delisting grizzlies could be imminent, hunting advocates say, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers regulations for bear hunting. They say pushing the deadline for the agency's decision on bears to December could be a step toward delisting.

Mark HeinzFebruary 03, 2026

A recent grizzly bear study in Yellowstone National Park involved 120 remote cameras set up around the park, to capture photos of the bears’ activity.

From Bear Wrestling To Wildlife Monitoring, AI And Tech Evolution Fuels Research

Wildlife researchers are using technology to take a hands-off approach to studying wildlife, stressing animals less and saving researchers from eye-blurring data crunching. It's a huge leap from the days of wrestling bears in the name of science.

Mark HeinzFebruary 03, 2026

Firearms suppressors, commonly called silencers, can greatly reduce noise and recoil – even in robust cartridges, such as the .500 Smith & Wesson.

Gun Silencers Go From Fringe To Mainstream After Tax Elimination

People with firearms suppressors or silencers no longer have to pay a $200 federal tax. That could be the tipping point that makes the devices the next big thing for hunters, gun sellers say.

Mark HeinzFebruary 03, 2026

Outdoor adventure influencer Coyote Peterson found this bison skull in a remote “animal boneyard” in Yellowstone National Park. After admiring it, he left it there. It’s illegal to remove animal parts from Yellowstone.

Yellowstone’s Remote ‘Animal Boneyard’ Is Where Elk And Other Animals Go To Die

Bison, elk and other animals die in droves in Yellowstone's remote “animal boneyard.” Only a few know how to get there, wildlife filmmaker Casey Anderson told Cowboy State Daily. Their carcasses provide a springtime buffet for grizzlies and wolves.

Mark HeinzFebruary 02, 2026

Ice fishing at night can provide an advantage for certain fish species, such as burbot. But it isn’t for the faint of heart because it’s much harder to spot thin ice at night. Burbot are one of the best species to catch by ice fishing at night. Ice anglers say they’re one Wyoming’s tastiest fish species.

Night Ice Fishing On Wyoming Lakes Is Dangerous, But Good Way To Catch Burbot

Ice fishing at night can be dangerous because it’s much harder to spot thin ice. But it’s a good way to catch burbot, which one angler calls "poor man's lobster" and says is delicious when boiled in Sprite.

Mark HeinzJanuary 31, 2026

Snowmobile accident 1 29 26

Two Snowmobilers Die After Collisions With Trees in Western Wyoming

In three days, Teton County Search and Rescue responded to three snowmobiling incidents. There were two fatalities, both involving snowmobiles that collided with trees. 

Andrew RossiJanuary 29, 2026

Three very young grizzly cubs in snow.

January Is Baby Boom Month For Yellowstone Grizzlies, Researchers Discover

The new crop of grizzly cubs that will emerge this spring to the delight of visitors in Yellowstone have likely already been born, researchers say. A long-term study nailed down January as the month when most grizzly cubs in Yellowstone are born.

Mark HeinzJanuary 29, 2026

The Split 5 Bull, also called Atlas, was a dominant bull in the huge elk herd that hangs around Estes Park, Colorado. The bull was legally shot by a hunter this fall.

Hunter Kills Huge ‘Split 5’ Bull Elk From Estes Park Urban Herd

Fans are mourning the loss of the gigantic “Split 5” bull elk that was part of the Estes Park, Colorado, urban herd. Popular with photographers and wildlife watchers because of his remarkable size, Split 5 was legally killed by a hunter.

Mark HeinzJanuary 28, 2026

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