The first specimen of Deinonychus was discovered by John Ostrom in August of 1964, with his assistant Grant E. Meyer in South Central Montana near the town of Bridger. Three specimens were discovered at this site (Wilford, 1985). Other sites where specimens of Deinonychus have been found are Wyoming, Utah, and Maryland. Both skeletons and teeth have been found at these sites (Thulborn, 1990).

The following map shows the localities where dinosaur finds of the Upper and Lower Cretaceous have been found.