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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

A proposal to raise the amount of land Wyomingites must own to qualify for landowner hunting tags is apparently off the table. But hunters worry it could come back for consideration by the Legislature.

Game And Fish Backs Off Unpopular Changes To Landowner Hunting Tags

A proposal to raise the amount of land Wyomingites must own to qualify for landowner hunting tags is apparently off the table. But hunters worry it could come back for consideration by the Legislature.

Mark HeinzJuly 08, 2025

A fire thought to have been ignited by fireworks late Friday destroyed the trailer home and storage shed of Dennis Wheeler on Fort Sanders Road, just south of Laramie. Wheeler’s son, Kyle Wheeler, pulled him out just before the entire home went up in flames.

Son Pulls Laramie Man From Blazing Trailer Home Just In Time

A Laramie man pulled his father out of a blazing trailer home with just seconds to spare late Friday. The family suspects it was started by errant fireworks.

Mark HeinzJuly 07, 2025

Jared Koenig, the director of recreation with the Sheridan Community Land Trust, demonstrates a “floater-friendly fence” that could help curb conflicts between ranchers and river recreationalists.

Floater-Friendly Fences Could Cool Fighting Between Wyoming Boaters And Ranchers

Steel cables with rope “danglers” that allow boaters to pass through could help cool fighting between floaters and ranchers in Wyoming. One such fight is brewing on Pine Creek near Pinedale.

Mark HeinzJuly 06, 2025

A Park County, Colorado, search and rescue team went 11 miles and spent 10 hours rescuing a dog that was overcome with exhaustion during a hike on June 24. Wyoming search and rescue teams aren’t willing to do that, you’d have to carry your dog out yourself here.

Colorado Search And Rescue Saves Dog, Something Wyoming Teams Can't Do

A Colorado search and rescue team spent 10 hours last week rescuing an exhausted dog from the backcountry. But in Wyoming, dogs are on their own as humans are the only priority. "We don't have the resources," one rescuer said.

Mark HeinzJuly 05, 2025

A mare named Barmaid escaped from its corral near Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park and ran loose in the park for about two weeks before finally being captured, safe and sound.

Trail Horse Named Barmaid Escapes, Runs Free in Grand Teton For Two Weeks

A trail riding mare named Barmaid escaped from a corral and ran free in Grand Teton National Park for about two weeks. She was finally rounded up last weekend without having suffered a single scratch.

Mark HeinzJuly 05, 2025

A stoat, or small member of the weasel family, invaded Warren Meyer’s garage north of Cheyenne. It was loose inside for about 20 hours before Meyer caught it and then set it free outside, unharmed.

Rural Cheyenne Garage Invaded By Stoat With Active Anal Glands

When Warren Meyer briefly opened his garage door this week, a stoat — or small weasel — darted-in unbeknownst to him. Meyer quickly found out that stoats have active and powerful anal glands.

Mark HeinzJuly 05, 2025

Artillery is still the queen of the battlefield, and new business venture in Cody aims help meet the demand for ammunition by churning out 155-millimeter high explosive shells. A company called US Ballistic Laboratories plans to set shop in the former Cody Laboratories pharmaceuticals building on Road 2AB at the northern edge of town.

US Ballistic To Start Churning Out 155-mm Military Artillery Shells In Cody

A building in Cody that was once used for pharmaceuticals, then eyed by Kanye West as a shoe factory, is on track to start assembling artillery shells. US Ballistic Labs says it picked Wyoming for its patriotic and firearms-friendly culture.

Mark HeinzJuly 04, 2025

Grizzlies are a common sight out on the prairie flatlands near Augusta, in north-central Montana.

Tiny Montana Towns Adjust To Prairie Grizzlies And Attacks On Livestock

Grizzly bears continue to move back into prairie country in Montana. Near tiny rural communities, they’ve been attacking livestock and eating deer fawns. They've become so prevalent that "the cows didn't even seem to notice" them.

Mark HeinzJuly 04, 2025

In what’s become an Independence Day tradition, Cowboy State Daily outdoors writer Mark Heinz plays “The Star Spangled Banner” on a chainsaw. Happy Fourth of July!

The Tradition Continues: Mark Heinz Plays ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ On A Chainsaw

In what’s become an Independence Day tradition, Cowboy State Daily outdoors writer Mark Heinz plays “The Star Spangled Banner” on a chainsaw. Happy Fourth of July!

Mark HeinzJuly 04, 2025

The Hot Springs County Commission faced backlash Tuesday from residents upset over deep cuts to the county’s extension office and 4-H program. Commissioners say it's necessary due to lagging oil and gas revenue and a 25% cut in property taxes.

Hot Springs County In An Uproar Over Cuts To 4-H, Extension Programs

The Hot Springs County Commission faced backlash Tuesday from residents upset over deep cuts to the county’s extension office and 4-H program. Commissioners say it's necessary due to lagging oil and gas revenue and a 25% cut in property taxes.

Mark HeinzJuly 02, 2025

Somebody illegally hacked down about 20 live trees at the Tower Hill campground on Casper Mountain to build this lean-to right in the middle of a hiking trail.

Hacking Live Trees To Make Lean-To On Trail Not Only Inconsiderate, It’s Illegal

Responsible users of the public trails on Casper Mountain were outraged this week when someone cut down about 20 young, live trees and made a lean-to on a trail. That’s not only inconsiderate, it’s illegal — if the perpetrators are ever caught.

Mark HeinzJune 28, 2025

Isaac Rempe holds a cub named Charmin at the Grizzly Ranch Bear Rescue in Alabama.

It’s Sweet Home Alabama For Bears On Southern ‘Grizzly Ranch’

Alabama might be the last place you’d expect to find grizzly bears, but there are several of them thriving there on the Grizzly Ranch Bear Rescue. The man who runs it says it's his mission in life to rescue bears.

Mark HeinzJune 27, 2025

Other Authors

After suffering devastating injuries responding to a house fire on Feb. 28, Laramie firefighter Dylan Schilt spent months in recovery at a physical therapy center in Denver. On June 20, he walked out and greeted fellow firefighters.

Laramie Firefighter Crushed And Paralyzed In House Fire Walks Out Of Hospital

Laramie firefighter Dylan Schilt was left temporarily paralyzed when a massive stone chimney chase collapsed on him and a colleague on Feb. 28. After four months of intense work, he walked out of a Denver inpatient physical therapy center last week.

Mark HeinzJune 26, 2025

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, right, has only himself to blame for the downfall of his plan to sell federal public lands. Former Assistant Interior Secretary Rob Wallace, left, says Lee shot his bill in the foot when “he cut the public out of the discussion.”

Former Asst. Interior Secretary Says Downfall Of Land Sale Bill Lee’s Own Fault

Sen. Mike Lee has only himself to blame for the downfall of his plan to sell federal public lands. Former Assistant Interior Secretary Rob Wallace says Lee shot his bill in the foot when “he cut the public out of the discussion.”

Mark HeinzJune 26, 2025

Georgia residents and decorated Army veterans Hank Ward (left) and Chris Clemmens love hunting white-tailed deer together in their home state. Through a program called Vets 4 Huntn & Fishn, they hope to enjoy Wyoming elk hunts too.

Purple Heart Vet On Wyoming Hunt Almost Tangled With Moose — And Wants To Come Back

As a Purple Heart recipient, Hank Ward has seen a lot, but he’ll never forget the first time he saw a moose in the wild in Wyoming. He almost tangled with a young bull that didn’t see him. Like many vets treated to Wyoming hunts, Ward wants to come back.

Mark HeinzJune 25, 2025

Your public lands sign 6 24 25

Wyoming Hunters Say They’ll Oppose Public Land Sales, No Matter What

Wyoming hunters said they won’t budge from their staunch opposition to selling public land. That’s despite U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, still pushing for a revised version of his federal land sales measure in a Senate budget bill.

Mark HeinzJune 25, 2025

The Weatherby firearms company in Sheridan hopes that its new Model 307 Alpine hunting rifle will help reinvigorate slumping gun sales.

One Reason For Firearms Sales Lag Could Be That ‘Everybody Who Wanted One Has One’

While the firearms industry is cyclical, the current slump in gun and ammo sales might defy the usual explanations. The owner of a Riverton tactical shooters training company says AR-15 sales could be down because “everybody who wanted one has one.”

Mark HeinzJune 25, 2025

Former Wyoming Govs. Mike Sullivan, from left, Jim Geringer, Dave Freudenthal and Matt Mead.

Former Governors Say Bipartisan Anger Over Public Land Sales Not Surprising

Wyoming’s four living former governors — two Republicans and two Democrats — say they aren’t surprised about the bipartisan anger over the sale of federal public lands. Accessible wildlands are a defining element of Wyoming’s culture, they say.

Mark HeinzJune 24, 2025

A locked gate blocks Boswell Road at the Ox Yoke Ranch property line. The property owners say they want to allow public access, but are worried about liability issues — because official jurisdiction over the road remains murky.

Hunters And Others Angry About Being Locked Out Of Popular Snowy Range Road

An elk hunter said he nearly trashed his truck and camper because he got locked onto Boswell Road in Albany County and had to drive out the back way in a blizzard. He’s not the only one, as debate continues about whether the road is public or private.

Mark HeinzJune 24, 2025

Facing scathing backlash from hunters over proposed federal land sales, Utah Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Lee says he’s willing to “make changes” to his bill. But hunters say compromise is impossible and the bill needs to die.

Lee Offers Compromise On Public Land Sales Bill, Hunters Say No Deal

Facing scathing backlash from hunters over proposed federal land sales, Utah Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Lee says he’s willing to “make changes” to his bill. But hunters say compromise is impossible and the bill needs to die.

Mark HeinzJune 23, 2025

A spat brewing between anglers and a landowner over a natural water channel connecting Pine Creek and the New Fork River near Pinedale could reflect a growing trend of tension between landowners and floaters across Wyoming. “It’s symbolic of greater issues,” legendary Wyoming fly fisherman and outdoor businessman Jack Dennis told Cowboy State Daily. 

Legendary Outdoorsman Jack Dennis Says Pinedale Fight Fuels Tension Between Floaters, Landowners

A spat between anglers and a landowner over a natural water channel connecting Pine Creek and the New Fork River near Pinedale reflects a growing trend of tension between landowners and floaters across Wyoming. “It’s symbolic of greater issues,” outdoorsman Jack Dennis says.

Mark HeinzJune 22, 2025

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