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

Michelle Woerner from K9s 4 Mobility testifies for on a service dogs bill Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.

Legislators Say They Want To Protect Real Service Animals, Not “Fluffy Dog” Pets

A bill passed by a Senate committee Wednesday says people should be allowed to train their service dogs in public in Wyoming. It also calls for severe penalties for those who want allowances for their “fluffy dog” pets.

Mark HeinzJanuary 30, 2025

A legislative bill proposes lifting most of the restrictions on mountain lion hunting in Wyoming. Opponents worry that would lead to a slaughter of too many of the big cats.

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

Bill Would Reverse Ban On Shooting Prairie Dogs From Your Truck

A Wyoming man told legislators that he and his friends were flabbergasted when a game warden confronted them about illegally shooting prairie dogs from a pickup. A House committee voted Tuesday for a bill that would make that legal.

Mark HeinzJanuary 29, 2025

Some Say Legislative Response To Wyoming Wolf Torture Doesn’t Go Far Enough

Lawmakers unanimously advanced a bill that would outlaw torturing wolves and other predators Tuesday. But some Wyomingites say running animals over with snowmobiles should also be banned.

Mark HeinzJanuary 29, 2025

A whitetail deer, left, and mule deer, right.

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

Harriet Hageman and others say there’s a chance Wyoming’s grizzlies will be delisted from endangered status after all with President Donald Trump back in office. His pick for Interior secretary says “I’m with you” on delisting.

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

Guns for Christmas owner of Frontier Arms IMG 1905 12 23 copy

Wyoming Shooters Say They Don’t Support Eliminating Sales Tax On Guns, Ammo

A proposal to eliminate sales tax on guns and ammo in Wyoming is a nice gesture, some sportsmen say, but cutting taxes across the board would be better.

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

State Rep. Bill Allemand, R-Midwest, wants to close a loophole in Wyoming's wildlife laws that technically makes it illegal to trap and kill a mouse in your vehicle. You could get a year in jail and a $10,000 fine.

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

Other Authors

Inspired By ‘Little Siberia’ Schoolhouse, Support Grows For Rural Wyoming Schools

After the success of a one-room schoolhouse in remote north Albany County, Wyoming is poised for more across the state. A bill to create more rural schools passed the House Education Committee unanimously Wednesday.

Mark HeinzJanuary 23, 2025

Heather and Charles Maude, owners of Maude Hog & Cattle near Caputa, South Dakota, were each served with separate federal indictments over a fence line dispute with the U.S. Forest Service.

Hageman Blasts Feds For “Weaponized” Intimidation Of Ranch Family Over Fence

Harriet Hageman is calling out federal officials for an armed federal agent in tactical gear showing up on a South Dakota ranch over a fence line dispute. She condemns the “weaponized” response and wants the feds to explain themselves.

Mark HeinzJanuary 22, 2025

State Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, in hat, testified Tuesday in favor of a bill that would split whitetail and mule deer hunting seasons in Wyoming.

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

A woman fly fishes from a drift boat on the North Platte River near Casper, Wyoming.

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

Unraveling “whodunit” mysteries when cattle or big game animals are killed by predators can be a gory, gooey business, but there’s vital clues in the carcasses for those who know how to look.

“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

After a dry start to winter, Wyoming snowmobilers are enjoying a bounty of fresh powder in the mountains.

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

Big Horn ATF Raid Eerily Similar To "Clown Show" In 2002, Former Sheriff Says

A former Sublette County Sheriff says an ATF raid on a couple in Big Horn, Wyoming, mirrors a 2002 incident in his county. He says his office was misled by the federal agency and calls the response a “clown show.”

Mark HeinzJanuary 18, 2025

The House Judiciary Committee discuses a bill to do away with Wyoming's gun-free zones.

Repealing Gun-Free Zones Won’t Mean AR-15s In Wyoming Capitol, Sponsor Says

The debate over whether to repeal Wyoming’s gun-free zones heated up again Friday. A bill before the Legislature similar to one Gov. Mark Gordon vetoed last year is back, but its sponsor says it wouldn’t mean AR-15s in the state Capitol.

Mark HeinzJanuary 17, 2025

A snowmobile chases a wolf across a snowy landscape in Canada.

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

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