Clyde 'The Buffalo' Mortenson Is The West’s Biggest Breakout Star

When tourists and wildlife photographers want incredible images of bison, they go to Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Parks. When fashion companies and film directors want incredible images of bison, they seek out a professional. 

That's when they call for Clyde. 

Clyde "The Buffalo" has a resume that would make many aspiring actors jealous. The New Mexico-based bison has been featured in movies, television shows, and national advertising campaigns that require a photogenic buffalo.

Clint Mortenson, Clyde's owner, is also his agent, chauffeur, and personal assistant. He just drove Clyde to Jackson for a photo shoot with fine-art photographer and conservationist David Yarrow. 

"I brought him to Jackson last month for a wedding at the Snake River Sporting Club," Mortenson said. "I'd never been to Jackson before, and now I've been there twice in a month." 

Mortenson's already making arrangements for Clyde's future gigs. There's no better bison in the business than Clyde, and there's a high demand for his enormous presence and on-set stoicism. 

"He's made a little bit of a name for himself," Mortenson said. 

A Star Is Born

Any great artist will tell you that it's impossible to manufacture genuine talent. It has to be nurtured and cultivated, which is precisely why Clyde got his big break in the industry.

Mortenson owns Mortenson Silver and Saddles in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He'd been working in the film industry for years before Clyde came into his life. 

"I actually lived in Lusk when I went to saddlemaking school," he said. "I've supplied horses and made saddles and other things for movies in New Mexico. That's how Clyde became popular." 

Clyde has his own "rags to riches" story. Mortenson rescued and started bottle-feeding him when he was only two weeks old, and he's lived as "a pet" on his ranch outside Santa Fe ever since.

"He's always been friendly," Mortenson said. "He lived right outside my place and played with my dogs, and he's been around people every day of his life." 

When Mortenson's film connections learned he was raising a docile bison, they started calling him to see if he'd be willing to let them use Clyde for various projects. Recognizing he had a star in the making, Mortenson started transporting Clyde across the nation to build up his film credentials. 

"I was surprised that people wanted him for photo shoots and movies, but the word of mouth spread and people kept calling," he said. "So, we just started sticking him in whatever we could." 

As Seen In . . . 

Since stepping into the spotlight, Clyde has become the go-to bison for several brands. He's appeared in commercials for Banana Republic, Bass Pro Shops and YETI. 

"They filmed a YETI commercial with him pushing around one of their coolers," Mortenson said. 

Clyde's "acting" credentials include appearances in Paramount's "Yellowstone," the Amazon Prime science-fiction series "Outer Range," and the newest television series by "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan, "Pluribus," on Apple TV. 

For photo shoots, there's no better bison than Clyde. Mortenson said Clyde is frequently requested for Western-themed shoots in corrals, open ranges, and small saloons. 

"We've done a lot of photo shoots in saloons," he said. "I've taken him into little bars in Aspen, Vail, Telluride, Durango and Silverton, Colorado. I even took him into the White Elephant Saloon in Fort Worth, Texas." 

Clyde is halter-trained, so he's used to being led around and posed while being surrounded by cowboys, saloon girls, and professional models. 

That also means Mortenson and others have been able to ride him. Wyatt Mortenson, Clint's son, made his mark as an actor and stuntman as "the Buffalo Rider," sharing photos of himself saddled up on Clyde.

Mortenson said the secret to Clyde's success, on and off camera, is his mindset. Like any great actor, Clyde found his inner humanity, bringing his best to his work.

"I don't think he knows he's a buffalo," he said. "He's pretty trustworthy with me, so he let me lead him all over, which has made him popular with directors and photographers. But he's always been gentle. He's just like people." 

Bison Booking Agent

Clyde's celebrity has kept Mortenson busier than he ever anticipated. As soon as he's finished a project and gotten back to Santa Fe, he has to hit the road again to get Clyde to his next booking.

"I might have him back in Jackson for another shoot in a few weeks," he said. "In the last few months, I've taken him everywhere from Colorado to Texas." 

When the Oklahoma City Thunder made the NBA Finals in May, Clyde took on the role of "Rumble the Bison" to support the team. He had a place of honor outside the Paycom Center in downtown Oklahoma City. 

Mortenson manages Clyde's bookings, publicity, and increasingly busy schedule. He didn't expect to dedicate this much of his life to being a bison booking agent, but he has a good client and doesn't mind the work. 

"He's got his own Instagram page now, and a lot of movie people know about him," he said. "We travel a lot, all over the country, for different shoots, but the money helps out, and it gets me out of my saddle shop." 

Actors can be known for having extravagant demands on-set. Clyde is the biggest celebrity on-site by default, but Mortenson said he's pretty low-maintenance. 

"I treat him good," he said. "He likes certain horse treats and grain, and he likes cantaloupe. I spoil him a little bit more when we're traveling, and he's always loved on." 

Bison are an iconic element of the American West. As long as there's a demand for the western aesthetic in film, television, and advertising, professionals are going to want the best bison in the business. 

Mortenson is still surprised by how many people are clamoring for Clyde, but he knows that his career is no fluke. Any bison can be photogenic, but Clyde has a reputation for being easy to work with, taking direction well, and not being a prima donna.

"When I was in Darby, Montana, for 'Yellowstone,' somebody came up to me while I had Clyde on a halter," he said. "They said, 'We have 5,000 buffalo in Montana. Why did they make you come all the way from Santa Fe?' I told him to lead one of those bison right up there, and I'd wait."

Needless to say, no other bison showed up on set that day. There's a reason why Clyde the Buffalo is outstanding in his field, especially when he's out standing in a field. 

Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.