How It Works
Hunt with the Experts
You get to spend a week hunting for dinosaur bones with guides out in the field!
Keep what you find
You will be able to keep almost everything that you find. In most cases each participant finds several hundred bone fragments, ten or so mostly complete bones and an occasional tooth and claw.
Start something awesome
There aren't many cooler things you can say than "Hey, want to look at my fossil collection? It's a hobby." At least, that's what we would like to think.
Some of our sessions mention Oligocene ranches; Oreodont skulls are relatively common here
This ranch will provide collectors with an excellent opportunity to obtain articulated specimens that they can keep such as Oreodonts and giant tortoises
Click to view current open slots for 2021 and 2022
2021 Sessions
2022 Sessions
2021 Sign Up
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#1
9/20 slots filledSun June 13 to Sat June 19
Staff week with students, no collecting.
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#2
21/20 slots filledNewcastle, Wyoming
Sun June 20 to Sat June 26
This is a very good Lance formation ranch with abundant Triceratops material, plant fossils, invertebrates and petrified wood. One day will be spent on a massive Oligocene ranch south of Newcastle.
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#3
10/20 slots filledNewcastle, Wyoming
Sun June 27 to Sat July 3
This truly superb Oligocene ranch produced exceptional finds in 2020. The discoveries included numerous tortoises, oreodonts, camels, giant pigs, rhinos of all sizes, saber cats, horses, deer, an assortment of other smaller animals, and even a 4 inch duck egg.
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#4
23/22 slots filledNewcastle, Wyoming
Sun July 4 to Sat July 10
This is an excellent Lance Formation, Cretaceous ranch. It covers over 30,000 acres and has been very productive. It will be covered in one week. In addition, one day will be spent on the above mentioned Oligocene ranch.
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#5
21/20 slots filledNewcastle, Wyoming
Sun July 11 to Sat July 17
This week we will be prospecting on a Lance formation ranch neighboring the ranch we are collecting during sessions 3 and 4. This property covers an area of 33,000 acres and will be collected during both sessions 5 and 6. We will also prospect on the above referenced Oligocene ranch for one day.
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#6
23/32 slots filledBaker, Montana
Sun July 18 to Sat July 24
This ranch has excellent Hell Creek exposure, and has great potential.
#7
21/25 slots filledBaker, Montana
Sun July 25 to Sat July 31
This ranch has 12,000 acres of Hell Creek exposure, and has great potential.
WE KNOW,
THIS IS
AWESOME
2022 Preseason Sign Up
$250 Discount Per Person
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#1
19/20 slots filledSun June 12 to Sat June 18
Student dig week.
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#2
30/30 slots filledBaker, Montana
Sun June 19 to Sat June 25
This ranch has 12,000 acres of Hell Creek exposure, and has great potential.
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#3
16/20 slots filledGlasgow, Montana
Sun June 26 to Sat July 2
The Judith River Ranch houses a beautiful, 20 mile long, 700 foot deep gorge. The gorge that runs through the prairie is older than other formations, and has been the discovery site for ceratopsians and albertosourus; This session is NOT recommended for people who are not in shape!
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#4
18/22 slots filledNewcastle, Wyoming
Sun July 3 to Sat July 9
This truly superb Oligocene ranch produced exceptional finds in 2020. The discoveries included numerous tortoises, oreodonts, camels, giant pigs, rhinos of all sizes, saber cats, horses, deer, an assortment of other smaller animals, and even a 4 inch duck egg.
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#5
13/20 slots filledNewcastle, Wyoming
Sun July 10 to Sat July 16
This is an excellent Lance Formation, Cretaceous ranch. It covers over 30,000 acres and has been very productive. It will be covered in one week. In addition, one day will be spent on the above mentioned Oligocene ranch.
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#6
13/20 slots filledNewcastle, Wyoming
Sun July 17 to Sat July 23
This week we will be prospecting on a selection of Lance formation ranches in the Newcastle Area. We will also prospect on the above referenced Oligocene ranch for one day.
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#7
11/20 slots filledNewcastle, Wyoming
Sun July 24 to Sat July 30
This week we will be prospecting on a selection of Lance formation ranches in the Newcastle Area. We will also prospect on the above referenced Oligocene ranch for one day.
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WE KNOW,
THIS IS
AWESOME
Our Amazing Team
Meet the people who make Paleo Prospectors possible!
Steve Nicklas
Paleo Prospectors Founder
Rob Sula
Lead Guide
Caitlin Flake
Guide
Michael Payne
Guide
Zack Heck
Guide
What our participants are saying:
"It is so cool that we get to explore and find our own fossils! The fact that I am the first person to ever lay eyes on the fossil is awesome!" - Caitlin Flake
"An unforgettable experience... I can't wait to go back next year!" - Paul Weiler
"I love how we are able to preserve the past. The anticipationn of what we might find keeps us on our toes all the time. Last but not least the bathrooms are phenomenal (thats because you are outside with a 360 degree view of the mountains, plains, and horny toads!)" - Megan Graham
"Taking trips with Paleo Prospectors was a life changer. I look back at these excursions as some of the happiest times of my life." - Robert Peterson
"Once a pile of stuff I found turned out the be a 30 foot Tylosaur. The look on Steve's face was priceless!" - Thomas Williams
The following list covers most of what you will need for our time in the field:
- Hat
- Rain Coat
- Camera
- Canteen
- Work Gloves
- Good Hiking Boots & Socks
- Shorts & Long pants
- Knee Pads (optional)
- Light Coat
- Back Pack (large capacity)
- Bug Spray
- Sun Block
- Small First Aid Kit
- Windbreaker
- Wrist Watch
- Personal Rock Hammer (optional)
- Pocket Knife
- Gumption
Hotel Info
*Hotel included in trip cost (double occupancy)
Fly into: Rapid City, South Dakota
Address: 1227 S. Summit Newcastle, Wyoming 82701
Phone Number: 307-746-2724
Website: http://sagemotel.weebly.com/
Notes: Great motel!
Fly into: Rapid City, South Dakota
Address: 300 Oak St. Chadron, NE. 69337
Phone Number: 308-432-5577
Website: http://www.westernerinns.com/
Notes: Great motel!