Outdoors Reporter

Mark Heinz

Mark Heinz covers the outdoors and wildlife for Cowboy State Daily.

He previously worked or freelanced for numerous newspapers and magazines across Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, covering all manner of news and feature stories. He has a strong background in topics related to wildlife, hunting, and wildlands conservation. He's written extensively since the 1990s about the controversies surrounding wolves, grizzly bears and mustangs.

He also enjoys people-centric stories with quirky edge of humor and has written several such pieces for Cowboy State Daily.

Mark lives in Laramie with his wife, Kendy, and the youngest of their five children.

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Latest from Mark Heinz

Landon Clement says "the Lord was looking out for me" when he survived a grizzly attack while bowhunting in Wyoming on Sept. 26, 2024.

Hunter Who Survived Wyoming Grizzly Attack Says “It Felt Like A Freight Train”

An archery hunter from Georgia attacked by a Wyoming grizzly Thursday says “it felt like a freight train” had hit him. He told Cowboy State Daily he “saw nothing but her head and her white teeth coming right at me.”

Mark HeinzSeptember 27, 2024

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

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

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

A vintage pay phone in Gary McKim’s shop in West Laramie actually works. He can make and receive calls on it.

Looking For A 1947 Snow-Thrower Truck? McKim’s In West Laramie Has It, And Many Other ‘Oddball’ Items

All manner of “oddball” things passes through Gary McKim’s sales shop in Laramie. Still, he can’t seem to sell a 1966 Ford Ranchero – which he said is a lesson in “don’t drink and bid” at auto auctions.

Mark HeinzSeptember 22, 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

Chuck Gray Says As A Gun-Free Zone, Wyoming Capitol A “Soft Target”

As a gun-free zone, the Wyoming Capitol and adjacent government buildings are “soft targets,” Secretary of State Chuck Gray said Thursday. He testified for a legislative committee in favor of repealing Wyoming’s gun-free zones.

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

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

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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

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

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

Wyoming Delegation Will Not Support Snowmobiles Aren’t Weapons Act

Wyoming’s congressional delegation on Thursday said they do not support a bill that would prohibit killing wolves with snowmobiles. Further, they said states that don’t have snowmobiling should say out of the West’s business.

Mark HeinzSeptember 12, 2024

One-year-old Lainey Seely was napping in a kiddie pack on the back of her dad, Ryder Seely, as he stalked to within bowshot range of this impressive southeast Wyoming buck.

Wyoming Bowhunter Bags Big Buck With Napping Toddler On His Back

Wheatland bowhunter Ryder Seely stalked and shot a big mule deer buck Wednesday. He couldn't find a babysitter when the daycare was unexpectedly closed, so he did it with his sleeping 1-year-old daughter on his back.

Mark HeinzSeptember 12, 2024

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