Did Bounty Hunters really exist in the Old West, or is that just another invention of Hollywood? The truth is a lot more complicated than the movies make it seem. Law enforcement in the Old West was patchwork at best, often made up of part-time sheriffs, underpaid marshals, and ramshackle jails. With courts just as unreliable, ordinary citizens and private companies like Wells Fargo began offering cash rewards for outlaws. These rewards gave rise to a system of bounties that blurred the line between justice and profit. But the iconic lone gunman chasing fugitives for money? That’s mostly fiction. In reality, bounty collection was done mostly by deputy U.S. marshals, sheriffs, or detectives from agencies like the Pinkertons and Wells Fargo. Figures such as Charlie Siringo, Bass Reeves, and Pat Garrett did collect bounties, but as part of their official duties, not as freelance bounty hunters. Even the few who did, like Jack Duncan of Texas, earned little compared to the risks they faced.
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20:52
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20:52
Barney Riggs: The Deadliest Gunfighter You've Never Heard Of
Barney Riggs was one of the Old West’s most notorious and controversial gunfighters. Born in Arkansas in 1856, Riggs moved to Texas as a child, where violence quickly became a family tradition. At just 18, he killed a friend in what was called an accidental shooting. By his twenties, Riggs was in Arizona, working as a cowboy, stealing horses, and allegedly committing multiple murders. After being convicted of murder and sentenced to life at Yuma Prison, Riggs won a full pardon by saving the warden’s life during a bloody escape attempt. He returned to Texas, where he continued his violent ways, becoming embroiled in the infamous Frazer-Miller feud and serving as a deputy under a controversial sheriff. Repeated arrests, deadly shootouts, and family drama followed Riggs until his tragic demise in 1902.
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16:44
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16:44
Top 10 Deadliest Gunfighters
Who was the deadliest gunfighter of the Old West? Legends like Wild Bill Hickok, Billy the Kid, and Jesse James all have larger-than-life reputations, but the truth is often a lot messier. Join me as we break down the facts and attempt to separate myth from reality on the West’s most notorious shootists. We’ll talk confirmed kills, unverified stories, and the wildest rumors around names like Johnny Ringo, Butch Cassidy, Clay Allison, Jesse James, Bass Reeves, Deacon Jim Miller, Tom Horn, and John Wesley Hardin. And along the way, you’ll get a closer look at who really deserves the number one spot on this list. Got an opinion? Drop your picks in the comments. If you think someone should be added or taken off, let me know who and why. Make sure to stick around to the very end for a bonus gunfighter most folks have never heard of.
Johnny Ringo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6glLij_YCY
Billy the Kid - https://youtu.be/J3yBXIa7ZuQ?si=VTHTr-JpT30wT2Cu
Jesse James - https://youtu.be/mUK8HWd53Z8?si=Pv2EVBcuH3P768Ic
Wild Bill Hickok - https://youtu.be/i-1Jgn4lrXU?si=-XCS4lQXwHj9ik_R
Clay Allison - https://youtu.be/7ozJkHNtmzc?si=k-mLFEcRut_RTIiD
Bass Reeves pt 1 - https://youtu.be/2lN-fRmjg6g?si=D_mjPt2X4Q5YCj9z
Bass Reeves pt 2 - https://youtu.be/YByfhYo_7as?si=_xOj_XjwDttx7al0
Deacon Jim Miller - https://youtu.be/i_sXfXiDjDw?si=9IuhsixsdTiRuLZt
Tom Horn pt 1- https://youtu.be/Bp7q97-ctlE?si=4XNuEn8yApVcypCH
Tom Horn pt 2 - https://youtu.be/2yF3Qr9_SFA?si=wuAPD1Ul_PMyFWGz
Tom Horn pt 3- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmuN4PME8NY&t=50s
John Wesley Hardin - https://youtu.be/MiPA_9R2mys?si=OIO2hSydV7I2JETZ
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22:40
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22:40
Billy Dixon & the 2nd Battle of Adobe Walls
On June 27th, 1874, a handful of buffalo hunters found themselves surrounded by hundreds of Comanche at a place called Adobe Walls. Outnumbered more than twenty to one, the odds of survival looked slim. Nevertheless, it was here that Billy Dixon stepped forward and made what’s become known as the “shot of the century,” dropping a mounted warrior at nearly 1,500 yards. Join me as we examine the life of Billy Dixon, from his hardscrabble childhood to his time as a buffalo hunter, scout, and Medal of Honor recipient. Also discussed are how Dixon and his companions survived the siege at Adobe Walls, what really happened in the infamous buffalo wallow fight, and how these events helped shape the final days of the Southern Plains tribes.
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41:25
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41:25
Outlaw or Ghost? The Search for Jesse Evans
What really happened to Jesse Evans, the outlaw who once rode with Billy the Kid and helped ignite the Lincoln County War? He shot up dance halls, rustled cattle, and left a bloody trail from New Mexico to Texas, only to vanish without a trace. And to this day, nobody knows his true fate. Was Jesse Evans really a childhood friend of Billy the Kid? Did he spend his final years as Joseph Hines in Florida, or die hiding out on a Texas ranch? Join me as I attempt to separate fact from fiction and explore every wild theory about Jesse’s origins, his crimes, and his legendary disappearance.
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The Wild West Extravaganza is a weekly history podcast that brings the real stories of the Old West and American frontier to life. Each episode explores the legendary outlaws, gunfighters, lawmen, cowboys, Native Americans, and frontiersmen who shaped the West. From iconic names like Billy the Kid, Jesse James, and Geronimo to overlooked tales of shootouts, cattle drives, and wild frontier towns, this podcast delivers the drama, grit, and historical truth of Western history. Discover the legends and forgotten figures that defined the American West.
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