Ever wondered what happens when a real-life cowboy stumbles upon the fossil fight of the century? Join us in the wilds of Eastern Montana with Clayton Phipps, the legendary “Dinosaur Cowboy,” as he spills the beans on trading saddles for shovels. From roping cattle at brandings to unearthing prehistoric treasures, Clayton recounts his jaw-dropping journey—including the saga of the Dueling Dinosaurs, two entangled titans that sparked a landmark legal showdown over fossil rights. Dive into tales of backhoe blunders, courtroom drama, and the raw thrill of paleontology’s wild side. Whether you’re a fossil fanatic or just love a good underdog story, this episode unearths the grit, glory, and giant bones of America’s badlands like never before. In this episode, we get into:
- Clayton’s life as a cowboy
- The Stygimoloch skull that started it all
- Clayton’s fossil collection and commercial operation
- The discovery of the Dueling Dinosaurs
- The legal battle over fossils and mineral rights
- Academic vs. commercial paleontology rift
- How the Dueling Dinosaurs were sold
- The Nanotyrannus vs. juvenile T. Rex debate
- The future of paleontology
Links mentioned in this episode
Connect
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Sponsors
- Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com – Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.
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Credits
- Intro and Animations by Barry Thompson
- Photograph Contributions for Animation by Carver Weeks
- Additional Graphics by Andrew O’Neill
- Production Assistance by John Stock
- “Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA
- Copyright Outdoor Visions Media LLC, 2025
