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Local residents near the Elk Fire in northern Wyoming are also helping to keep their homes and land from burning. They're affectionately called the Hillbilly Hotshots.

Rural Wyomingites — AKA Hotshot Hillbillies — Help Save 1887 Double Rafter Ranch

The Double Rafter Ranch has been a fixture in northern Wyoming since 1887. It’s still there, thanks in part to the local Hillbilly Hotshots — a group of self-appointed rancher-firefighters — who helped save it from the Elk Fire.

Renée JeanOctober 08, 2024

This Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter is specially designed for operations in high, rugged mountains. This Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter is specially designed for operations in high, rugged mountains.

Wyoming Search And Rescue Team Recovers Body From Remote Colorado Peak

After Colorado teams twice tried to recover a man’s body from a remote mountain peak, Teton County Search and Rescue recovered his remains last week. The Wyoming team had the right equipment and training to help bring closure for his family.

Mark HeinzOctober 08, 2024

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Climbing A Tree To Escape A Grizzly Not The Best Idea, Outdoorsmen Say

In yet another conflict between a hunter and grizzly bears, a Montana man tried climbing a tree to escape one Saturday. It didn’t work. Grizzlies can climb too, and the hunter had to shoot the bear.

Mark HeinzOctober 08, 2024

Firefighters are nearby to fight the Elk Fire all around its perimiter and interior, where accessible.

“These Guys Are Heroes”: Locals Praise Crews Fighting 75,000-Acre Elk Fire

As firefighting crews continue to make progress on stemming the growth of the huge 75,000-acre Elk Fire in northeast Wyoming, locals are noticing. “These guys are heroes in my mind,” one lifelong Dayton resident said Tuesday.

Greg JohnsonOctober 08, 2024

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Black Bear With Cubs Killed After Breaking Into Colorado Home

A black bear with three cubs broke into a Colorado couple’s home, attacked and injured a man. Game agents killed all four bears.

Mark HeinzOctober 08, 2024

A white-tailed jackrabbit in the brush at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Sweetwater County, Wyoming.

Why Wyoming Jackrabbits Are “Predatory” Animals, On Par With Coyotes And Wolves

In Wyoming, Jackrabbits are classified as “predatory” animals, on par with coyotes and wolves in about 85% of the state. It’s not because they kill livestock, but because they can devastate crops.

Mark HeinzOctober 07, 2024

A large herd of elk runs away from the Elk Fire in northern Wyoming.

Huge Wildfire Is Hammering ‘Elk Factory’ In Bighorns, Ruins This Year’s Hunting

The massive 73,000-acre Elk Fire near Dayton, Wyoming, has all but ruined the elk and deer hunting season in some premier areas. It's hammering the "elk factory" that is the Bighorns.

Mark HeinzOctober 07, 2024

A group of people watch as a ribbon of fire burns it way across the face of the Bighorns near Dayton and Parkman, Wyoming.

Crews “Ready To Go On The Offensive” Fighting Huge 73,000-Acre Elk Fire

For the first time since the Elk Fire literally blew up overnight more than a week ago, firefighters on Monday said they are preparing to attack the 73,000-acre wildfire rather than react to it. "We’re ready to go on the offense," one firefighter said.

Greg JohnsonOctober 07, 2024

Portrait of wildlands advocate Margaret Murie.

How Mardy Murie, Wyoming’s Grandmother Of Conservation, Inspired The Wilderness Act

From Alaska to Wyoming, Margaret “Mardy” Murie and her family were advocates for keeping the wilderness wild. Known as the Grandmother of Conservation, she and husband Olaus helped inspire the Wilderness Act.

Jackie DorothyOctober 06, 2024

The 2024 Wyoming Smokebusters, back row from left: Crew Supervisor Shawn Ankeny, Robert Zaragoza, Sheldon Buckingham, Bryce Teran, John Murphy, Module Leader Jeremy Deplitch, Joshua Cole, Randy Stephens, Walter Eiden, Kevin Brown and Crew Supervisor Lee Loberg. Front row: Jared Millard, Christopher Robertson, Zachary Manning, Tyler Jones, James Skinner and Jeremiah Carson.

Wyoming Inmates Put To Work During Heartbreaking Wildfire Season

With more than 700,000 acres burned due to wildfires across the state of Wyoming, resources are tapped. Thankfully a crew of inmates known as the Smokebusters are helping the firefighters. So far, they have worked on 26 fires in eight counties.

Jen KocherOctober 06, 2024

The small, rural Wyoming town of Dayton can only watch and pray as the Elk Fire burns across the mountain face of the Bighorns above.

Elk Fire Now At 74,000 Acres And Still Out Of Control, But Some Signs Of Hope

The Elk Fire burning in northern Wyoming remains out of control, dangerous and unpredictable. It’s now at 74,000 acres and growing, but some signs of hope as rancher says “positive energy” helped save her ranch.

Greg JohnsonOctober 06, 2024

The rugged and remote Green Mountain area in the Laramie Range in Albany County is prized for its elk and bighorn sheep hunting. The proposed Britania Land Exchange would trade rugged Forest Service Land in Albany for two parchels farther to the north.

Forest Service Shouldn’t Trade ‘Hidden Oasis’ Of Prime Hunting Land, Critics Say

Critics of a pending land exchange say a remote and rugged piece of federal land in the Laramie Range mountains is a paradise for hunters, and the U.S. Forest Service should keep it. It’s prime elk and bighorn sheep habitat – accessible only by foot or horseback.

Mark HeinzOctober 05, 2024

The small, rural Wyoming town of Dayton can only watch and pray as the Elk Fire burns across the mountain face of the Bighorns above.

Ian Munsick Starts GoFundMe to Help His Hometown Communities With The Elk Fire

Although country superstar Ian Munsick is performing at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper on Saturday, his mind is on the Elk Fire -- which is threatening the communities in northern Wyoming where he grew up. Munsick's GoFundMe has already topped the $50,000 goal and is growing.

Renée JeanOctober 05, 2024

Coy Monroe, 14, of Encampment has already filled his 2024 big game archery tags – with an antelope, elk and deer. He hopes to get a mountain lion this winter.

Wyoming 14-Year-Old Bowhunter Has Banner Season, Gets Elk, Deer And Antelope

As October begins, many hunters are just getting started filling their tags for Wyoming’s three premier big game species – antelope, deer and elk. Coy Monroe, a 14-year-old from Encampment, is way ahead of everyone -- having already bagged all three, with his bow.

Mark HeinzOctober 05, 2024

The small, rural Wyoming town of Dayton can only watch and pray as the Elk Fire burns across the mountain face of the Bighorns above.

As Elk Fire Rages, Dayton Watches While Mountain Above “Just Glowing Orange”

Folks in rural Dayton, Wyoming, were awakened at 3 a.m. Saturday and told to be ready to evacuate. Meanwhile, all they can do is watch as the Mountain above them is “just glowing orange.”

Greg JohnsonOctober 05, 2024

Arthur "Jack" Schubarth

Montana Man, 81, Gets Prison For Scheme To Create Huge Hybrid Bighorn Sheep

An 81-year-old Montana man was sentenced to six months in prison this week for trying to create huge hybrid bighorn sheep using “Jurassic Park”-like techniques.

Mark HeinzOctober 04, 2024

View of the Fish Creek and Pack Trail fire area from the Gros Ventre.

Wyoming’s Pack Trail, Elk Fires Are Top Wildfire Priorities In Region

The Pack Trail Fire has burned nearly 20,000 acres in the Shoshoni National Forest and is expecting high winds to continue throughout the weekend. It and the Elk Fire in Sheridan County are the No. 1 wildfire priorities in the region.

Renée JeanOctober 04, 2024

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In Brief: Grizzly Killed For Killing Dog, Raiding Camps In Beartooth Mountains

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department says it killed a young male grizzly that was raiding camps in the Beartooth Mountains, then killed a hiker’s dog.

Mark HeinzOctober 04, 2024

The Elk Fire burns close to the town of Dayton, Wyoming.

No End In Sight For Folks In Path Of 51,000-Acre Elk Fire In Northern Wyoming

It may seem a little like “Groundhog Day” for folks in northern Wyoming in the path of the Elk Fire. The 51,000-acre wildfire is still uncontained, unpredictable and more of the same is expected.

Greg JohnsonOctober 04, 2024

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says that the wolf in this photo a lone leftover pup from the Copper Creek Pack. But others say it’s a small adult female wolf, perhaps from Wyoming.

Uncollared Wolf Spotted In Colorado May Have Come From Wyoming

An uncollared wolf spotted in northern Colorado has sparked controversy. Wildife officials say it’s lone pup from a pack they trapped, but others think it’s an adult from Wyoming.

Mark HeinzOctober 03, 2024

Andrew Johnson said he killed this mountain lion with a shovel late Sept. 25, when the big cat came directly for him and his dog at their campsite in Colorado.

Man Who Killed Mountain Lion With A Shovel Says It Came At Him ‘Low And Fast’

A man who killed a mountain lion with a shovel told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday that he has no doubt the lion was trying to kill his dog. It came at them both “low and fast.”

Mark HeinzOctober 03, 2024

Highway 14 south of Dayton, Wyoming, remains closed because of the Elk Fire.

Elk Fire Now 50,000 Acres, Spreading “In All Directions” In Northern Wyoming

The unpredictable and dangerous Elk Fire burning west of Dayton and Parkman in northern Wyoming has grown to 50,000 acres. It’s also spreading “in all directions.”

Greg JohnsonOctober 03, 2024

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Colorado Man Kills Mountain Lion With Shovel To Keep It From Eating His Dog

A Colorado man killed a mountain lion with a shovel to keep it from eating his dog last week, wildlife officials reported Wednesday. It’s an impressive feat, an experienced Wyoming mountain lion hunter said.

Mark HeinzOctober 03, 2024

There are plenty of huge polar bears prowling near the oil fields of Alaska's North Slope, where Gillette resident Tex McBride works two to three weeks at a time.

Gillette Welder Commutes To Alaska, Works Next To Polar Bears

Gillette's Tex McBride has an interesting commute. For two- to three-week stretches, he heads up to the North Slope of Alaska where he welds for an Arctic drilling company and frequently sees polar bears. “They’re frickin’ huge," he says. "It's frickin' awesome."

Mark HeinzOctober 02, 2024

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