Clayton Phipps with backpack

DINO HUNTERS, THE

Clayton Phipps with backpack

New Series 'Dino Hunters' Unveils Shocking Fossil Find

Join the dinosaur cowboys when the series premieres on Discovery on Friday, June 19th at 9P ET.

June 05, 2020

Across the West, the stage is set for a new type of gold rush: the hunt for prehistoric dinosaur fossils. In the badlands of Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas, ranchers and cowboys are uncovering valuable dinosaur bones on their land and using the discoveries to help save their livelihoods. The stakes to advance the understanding of prehistoric creatures are high, and so is the possible payday as these fossils can be worth millions.

In the all new series DINO HUNTERS, cowboys and ranchers rely on their deep knowledge of the land to search for prehistoric dinosaur fossils – from T-Rexes and Triceratops to, excitingly, the historic discovery of contested species Nanotyrannosaur. Take a look at the video below to learn more about rancher Clayton Phipps' exciting find.

Clayton Phipps Makes History
Loading Video...

You can follow Phipps' discovery this season, but take a moment to meet him and the other ranchers featured on the new series below.

Clayton Phipps

Montana

Born into cattle ranching, Phipps discovered that the land his family owned had a lot more to offer when he found his first dinosaur fossil in 2003. Only three years later, he unearthed what is considered one of the greatest fossil specimens ever discovered, the spectacular “Dueling Dinosaurs.” With deep roots in Montana, Clayton is well connected to other ranchers who sit on fossil-rich badlands dating back 65 million years. Along with his 12 year-old son, Luke, and a small team of fossil experts, Clayton sets out every digging season on the trail of his next major discovery.

Mike Harris

Wyoming

A true cowboy and businessman who “just can’t slow up,” Mike Harris has kept himself busy working since he was a kid. When he stumbled across a triceratops horn on his pastureland about 20 years ago, he realized there was more to ranching than cattle. In 2011, he found a T-Rex worth millions; its sale could pay off his ranch, but it’s hard to find a buyer with that kind of cash—so “Cowboy Rex” is still on the shelf. While he hunts for a buyer, he’s hedging his bets, prospecting for another big dinosaur that could bring the payday he needs.

Jake Harris

Wyoming

With a father like Mike Harris, it’s no wonder Jake Harris has spent his whole life trying to catch up to his dad. After spending eight years as a teacher, Jake returned to the ranch to work alongside the person he admires most. More manpower expedites the cattle work, freeing up precious time to pursue what they love most—hunting for dinosaurs.

Aaron Bolan

Wyoming

Back in the day, Aaron Bolan ran heavy machinery for a living and studied to be a homicide detective. But his free time was spent prospecting for dinosaurs on his Uncle John’s Wyoming ranch. Five years ago, he took a leap of faith and moved to the ranch, tying his digging and forensic expertise to his passion for paleontolog. Now, he has to make sure it pays off. Aaron is one of the few who’ve been struck twice by lighting, but he’d rather make his reputation by discovering a unique and historic dinosaur.

Jared Hudson

South Dakota

Jared Hudson has been hunting dinosaurs with the pros since he was 16 years old, getting his start at a site known worldwide for its mammoth fossils. Inspired by the team that found the famous T-Rex, “Sue,” Jared found a South Dakota T-Rex of his own. But what should have been the high point of his career was dashed by a contract dispute with the landowner. The bad blood spread to neighboring ranches, cutting off access to his best dinosaur hunting grounds. With legal bills piling up and his revenue stream in a stranglehold, Jared finds himself starting from scratch. He’s determined to find another great fossil—but also to clear his name and return to the area he once called his “second home.”

In every episode, these ranchers uncover new fossil discoveries. But if they are unable to excavate the finds before the harsh winter bears down, they risk losing the fossils to erosion, turning their potential fortune to dust.

DINO HUNTERS premieres Friday, June 19 at 9P ET on Discovery. In addition to watching the series on Discovery, viewers can watch DINO HUNTERS by downloading the Discovery GO app. Fans can join the conversation on social media with the hashtag #dinohunters. Follow Discovery on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest updates.

Next Up

Female ‘Vampire’ Remains Discovered in 17th-Century Graveyard

Archaeologists have unearthed an extremely unusual burial ritual to prevent a return from the dead.

Welcome to the Front Lines of CAL FIRE

The 2020 wildfire season in California has been the worst in state history. More than 4.1 million acres have burned, 9,400 homes and structures have been destroyed, and 33 lives have been lost. Discovery is taking viewers to front lines with CAL FIRE — premiering Sunday, Jan. 3 at 10p ET.

Your Guide to Fan-Favorite Series and Specials Making a Comeback This Spring... Shark Week Anyone?

Starting March 23rd enjoy HOURS of your favorite shows on Discovery, Science, and Animal Planet. From SHARK WEEK and MYTHBUSTERS to CRIKEY! IT'S THE IRWINS and more, scroll through to get the details.

Robotrucks to Deliver New Era of Driverless Technology

Clear winners are hard to pick in the race to develop self-driving vehicles, but autonomous trucks have built a convincing lead. Robotrucks have completed thousands of automated journeys and the world appears to be braced for a new era of driverless delivery.

STREET OUTLAWS Returns and the 405 is Back

OKC has been dominating the No Prep Track, but the time has come for the 405 to return to their roots — the streets. STREET OUTLAWS returns on Monday, January 11 at 8p on Discovery followed by Mega Cash Days at 9p on Discovery and streaming on discovery+.

World’s Largest Drone Superhighway Will Deliver Goods For Society

Drone deliveries will soon be a reality as the world's first automated superhighway is slated to begin operations in the UK by mid-2024.

Josh Gates is Taking Us Inside The Explorers Club

The Explorers Club and Discovery are partering on a new series TALES FROM THE EXPLORERS CLUB and celebrating diversity with The Explorers Club 50: Fifty People Changing the World that the World Needs to Know About.Plus, The Explorers Club Discovery Expedition Grants (ECDEG) is kicking off its second year of advancing and showcasing new expeditions, cutting-edge research, and scientific achievements to audiences worldwide.

Three New Species of Snakes Discovered in Graveyards and Churches in Ecuador

A team of scientists led by Alejandro Arteaga, grantee of The Explorers Club Discovery Expeditions and researcher at Khamai Foundation, discovered three new cryptozoic (living underground) snakes dwelling under graveyards and churches in remote towns in the Andes region of Ecuador.

NFL SUPER STADIUMS Follows the Epic Journey of Building SoFi Stadium

In partnership with the NFL, Discovery and Science Channel go behind the scenes and follow the remarkable journey of constructing SoFi Stadium in an all-new, two-hour special, NFL SUPER STADIUMS premiering Wednesday, September 9 at 8P on Science Channel and Saturday, September 12 at 11A on Discovery.

The Wolfpack Enters a New Era in Alaskan Bush People

What to expect in the new season of Alaskan Bush People as the Browns take on tough personal challenges while trying to keep their father's legacy alive.