avatarTom Egelhoff

Summary

The article discusses the authenticity of the TV show "Yellowstone" in portraying life in Montana, including its landscape, ranching, wildlife, and politics.

Abstract

The "Yellowstone" TV show is set in Montana and is filmed at the Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana, which is a real working ranch. The show accurately depicts various aspects of Montana life, such as the vastness of ranches, the presence of wildlife like bison and bears, and the state's political landscape, where landowners hold significant influence. However, there are creative liberties taken, such as the depiction of buffalo (which are actually bison in Montana) and the dramatic portrayal of cattle rustling and branding. The author, a Montana resident, provides insight into the state's growth, the influx of people from out of state, and the impact of tourism, which has been positively influenced by the show. The article also touches on the economic aspects, such as property prices and the largest landowners in Montana, including Ted Turner and the Wilks brothers.

Opinions

  • The author believes that "Yellowstone" captures the essence of Montana well, despite some exaggerations for dramatic effect.
  • There is a clear distinction made between bison and buffalo, with the author emphasizing that the term "buffalo" is a common misnomer in the show.
  • The author suggests that the growth of Bozeman, Montana, is primarily due to an influx of residents from other parts of Montana and surrounding states, rather than just people from California, New York, and Illinois.
  • The article conveys that while bears and other wildlife are common in Montana, the idea that one can casually encounter them as port

Television — Yellowstone Paramount Plus

Is The TV Show “Yellowstone’’ the Real Montana?

What’s Real and What’s Fake? Inquiring Minds Want To Know

Image by Matt O’Donnell from Pixabay

I moved to Bozeman, Montana in 1993. At that time Bozeman was about 12,000. Not big not small.

Kissing the smog layer of San Diego goodbye for the clean clear Big Skies of Montana.

Today the Bozeman population is over 50,000. Median homes in the Gallatin Valley are priced right at $1 million. Surrounding cities three quarter to half that.

Montana has money and lots of it.

Locals will tell you the growth is due to all the California, New York, and Illinois people moving here to escape those hellholes.

The truth is most people moving to Bozeman have moved from other parts of Montana and surrounding states.

The Dutton Ranch and The Size of Montana Ranches

If the size does matter, then Montana is where you want to be.

Montana is the fourth largest state in the nation.

To put land size in perspective when talking about the size of Montana ranches you need to know the concept of the size of an acre of land.

An acre is roughly the size of a football field without the end zones.

If you’re unclear about that size take a drive to your local high school football field.

The Dutton Ranch used in the “Yellowstone” show is actually the 2,500-acre Chief Joseph Ranch located in Darby, Montana.

It’s a working ranch, a real-life historic landmark, a family homestead, and a guest ranch.

If you want to live the “Yellowstone” experience, you can rent one of the cabins and be a real cowboy.

Just not when they’re filming.

The largest landowner in Montana is CNN founder Ted Turner and former husband of Jane Fonda. He has a cozy little corner of two million acres.

Or two million football fields. But it’s not a working ranch.

If you really want a perspective as to the size of Ted’s place the state of Rhode Island is only 776,900 acres.

Ted’s place could hold two and a half Rhode Islands with room to spare. Inside the state of Montana.

The largest actual working ranch in Montana is owned by Dan and Farris Wilks. They made their money fracking in Texas and their 62,000-acre ranch makes them the second-largest landholder in Montana.

Yellowstone TV Show— Is it Real or is it Memorex?

How much of the Yellowstone TV show mirrors the real Montana?

As with many TV shows, there’s a combination of facts and fantasy but a good portion of the Yellowstone show is pretty accurate in my opinion.

There are no buffalo in Montana. We have Bison. All the buffalos are in Asia or Africa, and the two are not closely related.

Every year one or two visitors to Yellowstone Park are gored by Bison.

For some reason, they think it’s some kind of petting zoo.

Yes, we have bears in Montana — Even in our High School.

Yes, they will kill you. Mountain Lions too. And Rattlesnakes. Meeting bears in the wild in the TV show is accurate

Going into the wild in Montana unprepared — is not a good idea.

Many of the scenes are shot on the streets of my current hometown of Bozeman and many of the accounts of the characters dealing with tribal lands and politics are very close to home.

Montana is home to several American Indian reservations some with casinos and their own laws and restrictions.

The cowboys may beat each other up in the bunkhouses. I’m not privy to the inner workings of the ranches.

I would also suggest that a few cowboys in Montana are running around with brands burned into their chests.

Tattoos yes, brands not many.

There is some cattle rustling but I don’t think a Montana State Livestock Inspector would trap landowners under cattle crossings. (Fans will remember Kaycee Dutton doing this)

Not a lot of shooting rustlers, poachers, or trespassers on ranches. At least none that makes the nightly news.

The Politics of “Yellowstone”

Much of the politics on Yellowstone is semi-accurate. Do big landowners have clout? You bet.

Is there dirty politics in Montana? You bet. It’s sadly the same everywhere

Behind the scenes running for public office and dealmaking seems very close to home here.

Some Final Thoughts on Yellowstone TV Show

There’s a reason Montana is often called, “The Last Best Place on Earth.” It’s a remarkable place.

I’m happy that Yellowstone TV shows us in a mostly positive light and has dramatically increased our tourism which is always a good thing for our local businesses.

Come on up or down wherever you are. Bring lots of money and enjoy the clean clear Big Sky.

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Montana
Yellowstone
Television
Drama
Politics
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