Fossil Hunting at Our Ranch

We get a lot of questions about our fossil hunting experience, so here’s a quick guide to help you get all the info you need!

Where is the ranch located?

The ranch is in Sioux County, Nebraska, about a 30-minute drive northwest from the town of Crawford.

How big is your ranch?

The ranch is slightly under 365 acres.

What’s the closest airport?

The nearest airport is in Rapid City, SD, which is about a 2-hour drive from the ranch.

What do we offer?

We offer access to our ranch for fossil hunting during two 5-day periods each year — one in the spring and the other in the fall. It’s a chance to explore and find some amazing fossils!

What are your rates?

Rates are set annually. Reach out to us directly for this year’s pricing.

Do we have to book for all five days?

Yes, we only offer 5-day bookings to give you the best opportunity to find fossils. This ensures you have plenty of time to explore!

Do you offer group discounts?

We no longer allow clubs to book the entire week and do not offer group discounts. Every individual or family must book directly through us.

Are your trips guided?

We don’t offer a guided service. Although we, the property owners, will be out there collecting as well. Guests are responsible for finding, excavating and getting fossils back to their vehicles. In all honesty a guide isn't required. Fossils can be found all around the ranch, and there’s no one specific area you need to focus on. Excavation of fossils is straight forward as well, find it and dig it out.

What type of collecting is it?

This is physically demanding surface collecting, which involves a lot of walking across flat and uneven terrain. The back of the ranch is a mile or more walk from where guests park if conditions preclude driving onto the ranch. Most fossils will be exposed on the surface, but the best ones are partially exposed and require digging to extract.

How long do we collect for each day?

Access for collecting is allowed for up to 8 hours a day — typically from 9 AM to 5 PM. Depending on weather conditions like rain, extreme heat, or storms, those hours may be adjusted for your safety and optimal collecting time and conditions.

What should I expect to find?

Expect to find bones, teeth, jaws, and pieces of turtle shell. Many guests have also found skulls and complete turtles! The most common skull found is an oreodont, but other skulls like those from horses, camels, rhinos, and even saber-toothed cats have been uncovered by guests. Some lucky guests have even found complete articulated animals! Scroll through this page to see trip reports and photos of items that have come off the ranch.

Do we get to keep what we find?

Yes, guests get to keep everything they find. The only requirement is that the location of where skulls, turtles and complete animals were found be reported to the property owners.

Do we need a vehicle, or can we catch a ride?

You’ll need your own vehicle to get to the ranch. Depending on the conditions, we may allow you to drive directly onto the ranch instead of parking at the road and walking in. A 4x4 or all-wheel drive vehicle is highly recommended. The ranch is located about 15-20 miles down semi graveled roads that can get rough, especially if it rains.

Do you have any facilities on the ranch?

There are no facilities on the ranch, so please plan accordingly.

Do you provide lodging or camping accommodations?

We do not provide lodging or camping on the ranch, nor do we offer any discounts with local hotels. You’re responsible for your own accommodations.

Do you provide tools or supplies?

We only provide access to the ranch — everything else is up to you! Bring your own tools and supplies.

What tools should I bring?

Most guests carry a large, straight-bladed knife with a solid tang which is ideal for digging fossils. A 6” straight blade buck knife or similar works quite well. Some bring rock hammers with them but we feel they create too much impact force and can damage fossils on extraction. Shovels aren’t effective due to the hard, chunky ground. Some guests prefer wearing cleats or crampons to assist in walking around. The ground can get quite crumbly and this helps with traction.

What supplies should I bring?

Most guests carry heavy-duty aluminum foil and plaster bandages for protecting their finds. Foil works great for wrapping smaller fossils, while plaster bandages are essential for larger pieces like skulls or complete animals.

What is the weather like?

The weather can be unpredictable! It could be chilly in the morning and over 100°F by the afternoon. Be sure to check the weather forecast for the area before you leave. Collecting is allowed in the rain, but if severe weather is on the way, we may ask you to leave the ranch for safety reasons.

Are there any forms to sign?

Yes. On your first day, you’ll need to sign a rules sheet and a liability waiver before you can access the ranch. These documents can be forwarded to you before booking if requested.

How do we book?

Book on this website, or email us and mail in a check. We can chat there, over text or on the phone to finalize the booking. Names of each individual person attending the trip will need to be provided upon booking. Half the cost per person is required as a deposit to hold the slot. The rest is due on or before the first day of access to the ranch.

Payments can be made in the form of a check, cash, or credit card, checks are highly preferred. There is a convince fee for online credit card purchases

Deposits are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend you have two years from your missed date to utilize the deposit for future access on the set access dates. Deposits will be deducted from that years rates. After the two your period, the deposit is forfeited.

Have any other questions?

Feel free to reach out to us directly! We look forward to having you out on the ranch for an unforgettable fossil hunting experience!

Access to the ranch is provided through M&M Fossil Digs LLC