Cowboys, Lawyers, and a Fossil Worth Millions: The Dueling Dinosaurs Saga | Clayton Phipps | Ep. 024

After years of searching, third generation Montanan rancher Clayton Phipps and his friends Mark Eaton and Chad O'Connor, discover one of the greatest dinosaur fossil specimens of all time: the remains of two perfectly preserved dinosaurs seemingly locked in battle. The find is worth millions, and quickly becomes the focus of not only the paleontological world, but an intense legal battle over who will see the profits. Ultimately the case will be decided by Montana's supreme court and become the basis for landmark legislature.

Today, we're in Eastern Montana getting the story straight from the horse's mouth. We sit down with Clayton -- known to most as the "Dinosaur Cowboy" -- as he tells the complete story of the Dueling Dinosaurs, as well as the series of events that led him to trade his saddle for a shovel, and life on the range for a career in commercial paleontology. Whether you're a fossil fanatic or just love a good underdog story, this episode is all about grit, glory, and the bones of ancient beasts, waiting to be discovered. We talk about:

• 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 video

• Clayton Phipps Instagram
• Hell Creek Hooligans Youtube

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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