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.
Latest from Mark Heinz
U.S. House Committee To Meet In Grand Teton About Money For National Parks
With billions of dollars' worth of backlogged repairs at stake, a congressional House committee meets in Grand Teton National Park on Friday. It will debate the future of the Great American Outdoors Act, which expires this month.
Mark HeinzSeptember 04, 2025
Wyoming’s Zero-Tolerance Wildfire Policy Leaves No Room For ‘Let It Burn'
Wildfire can play a cleansing role in nature, but in much of Wyoming it is considered too risky to let it burn. That’s why agencies rush to put out fires as soon as they can.
Mark HeinzSeptember 04, 2025
One-Eared Elk Named Van Gogh A Good Sign For Elk Hunting
A one-eared elk, nicknamed 'van Gogh' is one of many elk visiting an area with a webcam on a daily basis. The number of elk is encouraging to hunters as this area was wiped-out by the hard winter of 2022-2023.
Mark HeinzSeptember 02, 2025
Wyoming Mule Deer Numbers Down, But There Are Monster Bucks For Hunters
Numbers in Wyoming’s mule deer herds are down but finally bouncing back after the horrific winterkill of 2022-2023. Even so, there are some monster bucks out there for hunters this season.
Mark HeinzSeptember 02, 2025
Former National Park Service Chief Rob Wallace Honored With Conservation Award
Wyoming native Rob Wallace is an obvious choice for a prestigious Teton Science Schools conservation award, the organization says. Wallace oversaw the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during President Trump’s first administration.
Mark HeinzSeptember 01, 2025
Don't Count On Your Dog To Save You From A Bear Attack
A prominent bear biologist in Utah studied more than 300 bear-human conflicts involving dogs in North America. 80% of the time, dogs didn’t respond to bears attacking their humans. In many cases, dogs “sat and watched" the attacks.
Mark HeinzAugust 31, 2025
E-Bikes Transform Wyoming Hunting, Spark Debate Over Backcountry Crowding
E-bikes are increasingly part of Wyoming's hunting scene. That means more accessibility for more people in the outdoors, which is both good and bad, depending upon the perspective.
Mark HeinzAugust 30, 2025
'Breathtaking’ Images Of Leaping Mountain Lions Likely Staged In Game Farms
Majestic images of mountain lions leaping across gullies are most likely staged with captive animals. World-renowned Wyoming wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen is on a mission to end the game farms that abuse and exploit those wild animals.
Mark HeinzAugust 30, 2025
Lower 48 Bears Are More ‘Grouchy’ And Prone To Attack, Biologist Says
A woman was attacked by a bear in Glacier National Park, Montana, this week — and experts say she’s lucky her hiking partner blasted it with bear spray. A biologist says bears in the Lower 48 are generally more “grouchy” than their northern cousins.
Mark HeinzAugust 30, 2025
Gigantic Wyoming Ranch Once Got 57 Landowner Hunting Tags; Legislature Eyes Cap
A gigantic Wyoming ranch once got 57 landowner hunting tags even though each property is allowed just two tags. Legislators on Friday discussed a proposal to limit landowner tags to prevent properties from becoming private hunting clubs.
Mark HeinzAugust 29, 2025
Ending Roadless Rule Threatens Wyoming’s Hunting and Fishing, Outdoors Groups Say
The 2001 Roadless Rule applies to remote areas all over Wyoming, and the Trump administration might rescind it. Outdoors groups claim that could ruin prime hunting and fishing spots, while others say the rule has stunted proper management of forests.
Mark HeinzAugust 27, 2025
Colorado Shoots Mustangs With Birth-Control Darts, Why Doesn’t Wyoming?
In Colorado, volunteers shoot female wild horses with darts loaded with fertility-control drugs to manage herd numbers. Wyoming doesn’t, because its vast rangelands and huge mustang herds make birth control for horses impractical.
Mark HeinzAugust 27, 2025
Popular Hunting App May Not Keep You From Trespassing — Or Out Of Big Trouble
The GPS service onX Hunt is practically standard equipment for hunters, but its accuracy can be off by a few yards. That’s enough to potentially get users charged with trespassing — and into big trouble.
Mark HeinzAugust 26, 2025
Beef Tallow Is A Hot Skin Care Trend, But In Grizzly Country It Makes You Bear Bait
Beef tallow is gaining popularity as a skin care treatment, but slathering it on while vacationing in Yellowstone National Park or anywhere in grizzly country is a really, really bad idea, say bear experts.
Mark HeinzAugust 23, 2025
Wyoming Bowhunters Say Archery Seasons Are All About The Challenge
Wyoming’s big game archery seasons are kicking off, and bowhunters explain the allure of hunting with one of the most primitive methods. While bows and arrows are now high-tech, hunters say archery seasons are all about the challenge.
Mark HeinzAugust 22, 2025
Will Wolf Torture Felony Cruelty Indictment Spill Over To Wyoming Hunters?
Some worry that the felony animal cruelty case against Daniel resident Cody Roberts for allegedly tormenting and killing a wolf could impact hunters and agricultural predator control in Wyoming.
Mark HeinzAugust 21, 2025
Black Bear In Full Sprint Chases Down Mule Deer Next To Yellowstone Highway
In a dramatic display, a black bear in a full sprint chased down a mule deer doe Sunday in full view of the Sylvan Pass highway in Yellowstone. An expert says it’s rare for bears to chase down prey like that.
Mark HeinzAugust 21, 2025
Injured Mushroom Hunter Pulled Out Of Rugged Area In Medicine Bow Forest
An already-busy year for Carbon County Search and Rescue got busier Monday when a mushroom hunter became injured, stranded and in "severe danger" deep in the Medicine Bow National Forest.
Mark HeinzAugust 21, 2025
Bowhunter Out For Bighorn Stumbles Across Trophy-Sized Ram’s Skull With Intact Horns
In a fantastic twist of fortune, a Wyoming archery hunter was out to fill a bighorn sheep ewe tag when he discovered the skull and horns of a trophy-sized bighorn ram. It’s a rare “deadhead” find that most hunters dream about.
Mark HeinzAugust 20, 2025
Lawmakers Consider Charging Fee For Mountain Biking On Wyoming State Trails
Wyoming might start charging bicyclists to use state trails. Riders and mountain biking advocates said they might support a fee as long as the money goes back into trail building and maintenance.
Mark HeinzAugust 20, 2025
No Matter Whether It’s Legal Or Not, Hunters Likely To Corner-Cross Anyway
Regardless of all the hype and controversy around corner-crossing, hunters say it doesn’t really matter. No matter what the U.S. Supreme Court or Wyoming Legislature decide on the issue, they’ll probably do it anyway.
Mark HeinzAugust 19, 2025