Tall Tales and Wild Rides: Three Legendary Cowboy Stories

[Pull quote forward] 

[INTRO MUSIC]

Howdy y’all, I’m Chip Schweiger, the Cowboy Accountant, and welcome to another edition of Way Out West with The Cowboy Accountant.  

The podcast that takes you on a journey through the stories of the American West, brings you the very best cowboy wisdom, and celebrates the cowboys and cowgirls who are feeding a nation. 

Picture this: it’s a clear night on the open plains, stars spilling across the sky like diamonds on black velvet. 

A campfire crackles low, casting shadows that dance around the circle. 

Cowboys are gathered ‘round, boots kicked up, eyes reflecting the firelight. There they’re swapping stories that drift off into the night like smoke. 

Out here Way Out West, the usual rules don’t quite apply—truth stretches a little further, heroes grow a bit taller, and creatures you’d swear don’t exist suddenly seem possible.

So today on the episode, we’re leaving the daylight behind, gathering around the campfire for some of the wildest, funniest, and downright legendary tales that cowboys have told under the stars.

Now, cowboys were no strangers to a long night’s ride or a lonely watch over the herd, and let’s just say they got pretty creative when it came to telling stories. 

From mythical creatures to over-the-top heroes, these tales weren’t just for fun—they were a way to pass the time, share laughs, and maybe even spook each other a bit. So, kick back, relax, and let’s dive into some good old-fashioned cowboy tall tales!

After the episode check out the show notes at our new website at podcast.CowboyAccountant.com. 

[MUSIC]

Hi there, and welcome back. If you’ve been following along these last few weeks, you know we’ve been digging into some of the deeper, heavier stories that shaped life out on the frontier. From the Code of the West to the grit it takes to walk that cowboy path, we’ve covered a lot of serious ground. But in this episode we’re putting our boots up, kicking back, and taking a lighter trail.

Let’s dive headfirst into some of the wildest, wackiest, and most legendary campfire stories that cowboys have spun under the stars. This is where myth meets humor, where heroes are larger than life, and where the line between fact and fiction is, well, just a suggestion. 

So pull up a seat by the fire, because this episode is all about tall tales, ghost riders, and the mythical creatures of the Wild West. You’re in for a fun ride. Let’s get going.

Now, if you’ve ever been Way Out West, you might’ve seen something funny in a shop window or even on a postcard: a rabbit with antlers. That’s right I’m talking about the infamous jackalope. 

Legend has it, this strange creature was first spotted by a cowboy who’d had a bit too much whiskey, and he swore up and down he’d seen a rabbit with antlers. Well, you can imagine how that story took off.

Next thing you know, every cowboy had a story about the time he barely escaped a jackalope attack or how they saw a whole herd of ‘em bounding across the plains. 

And these weren’t just any rabbits with horns—oh no. Cowboys said jackalopes could imitate a cowboy’s voice, even sing at night if the moon was bright enough. 

So, just imagine sitting by the fire, hearing a cowboy song, only to look around and see nothing but a pair of antlers and ears disappearing into the night.

And believe it or not, you can still get a jackalope hunting license in parts of Wyoming today, complete with rules about hunting only on June 31st… if you catch my drift.

Now, not all cowboy tales were as playful as the jackalope. Some were meant to send a chill up your spine—especially the ones about ghost riders. 

And since it’s close to Halloween, this one’s really good.

Cowboys would talk about seeing phantom riders out on the range, usually during thunderstorms or on misty, foggy nights. 

Some said they saw old cattlemen who had gotten lost, forever riding the plains, chasing a herd that had long stampeded.

Imagine sitting around the fire. Just beyond the edge of the light, you see the faintest outline of a rider in the distance.

A cowboy with no face. Just riding slowly through the fog. Some say if you see one, it means bad luck is coming your way. Others believe those riders were protecting the herds, their way of watching over the land even after they were gone.

This legend was powerful. So powerful, it even inspired the famous song *Ghost Riders in the Sky.* 

A haunting melody that talks about seeing those riders in the storm, never quite able to catch what they’re chasing. 

Gives you goosebumps, doesn’t it?

Let’s take a quick break and when we come back, we’ll talk about the most famous cowboy story. Be right back.

[BREAK]

Welcome back. 

Now, for the grand finale, let’s talk about the biggest, wildest, most outrageous cowboy legend of them all—Pecos Bill. 

You might’ve heard of this one. 

Pecos Bill was a cowboy superhero, a figure so over-the-top he could practically do anything. They say Pecos Bill didn’t just tame horses. He tamed cyclones, tornadoes, you name it. 

He’s supposed to have lassoed a cyclone across Texas and rode it like a bucking bronco, creating the canyons and mountains with every turn and tumble.

And that’s not all. They say Pecos Bill used rattlesnakes for lassos, rode a mountain lion like a horse, and even shot all the stars out of the sky once ‘cause they kept him up at night. 

The original Chuck Norris. 

But these stories were more than just a fun time—they were a way for cowboys to create their own heroes, bigger and bolder than life on the open range.

What I love most about the Pecos Bill stories is that every version gets wilder with each telling. 

And that’s the thing about cowboy tales—they aren’t about sticking to the facts. 

They’re about letting your imagination run wild, a reminder that a good story’s meant to grow and change. I’ll bet you have your own Pecos Bill story or another hero like him!

And there you have it—a few of the campfire legends that kept cowboys entertained under the stars. 

Whether it was the mystery of a ghost rider, the mischief of a jackalope, or the outlandish heroics of Pecos Bill, these tales remind us that sometimes, a good story is better than the truth. 

For the cowboy, these weren’t just stories—they were a chance to laugh, spook each other, and celebrate the wildness of the West.

Got a favorite campfire story of your own? Maybe a tall tale that’s been passed down through your family? Shoot me a message at howdy@cowboyaccountant.com or on the podcast’s website, and who knows—you might hear it on a future episode!

Ok, before we finish up this week, we’ve got one more thing.

[BULL SOUND]

Yep, that distinctive call from Buster the Bull means it’s time for the cowboy glossary term of the week. 

And this week’s term is WHIP:  A whip (also known as a stock whip) is a single-tailed whip, usually made of braided leather or nylon, and designed as a tool for working with livestock. 

Now contrary to some observers, whips are rarely used to strike livestock, but rather are cracked in the air and using the loud sound to move livestock. And in my personal opinion, the very best come from Australia. The Aussies got the stock whip figured out.

[OUTRO MUSIC]

And with that, that’s all for this week’s show. And I truly appreciate you riding with me. If you enjoyed today’s episode, be sure to subscribe and hey why not share it with a friend? They’ll probably enjoy it too. 

Remember, a good story never dies; it just gets a little wilder with each telling. Until next time, keep those fires burning, keep your boots dusty, and never let the truth get in the way of a good story!

We’ll see ya down the road.