Nancy Oar Finally Confirms All The Rumours On Tom Oar From Mountain Men | HO!!

YAK VALLEY, MONTANA — For more than a decade, Tom and Nancy Oar have been the quiet heart of the History Channel’s hit reality series, “Mountain Men.” Their rugged, off-the-grid lifestyle in the wilds of northwestern Montana has captivated millions, turning a pair of self-sufficient seniors into unlikely television stars.

But with fame came rumors, speculation, and the inevitable blurring of fact and fiction—a process only intensified by the secretive nature of reality TV. Now, after years of whispers and internet gossip, Nancy Oar is finally breaking her silence, confirming what’s true, what’s false, and what really happened to her legendary husband, Tom.

The Reality Behind Reality TV

“Mountain Men” is marketed as an unfiltered look at America’s last frontiersmen—people who have chosen to live far from modern society, surviving by their wits and skills. But as with all reality television, the line between documentation and dramatization can get fuzzy. For Tom and Nancy Oar, this has meant living under a microscope, with fans and critics alike dissecting every scene for authenticity.

Rumors about the Oars have swirled for years. Some claim Tom is dead. Others insist the couple secretly left Montana, or that the show exaggerates their hardships for ratings. Still others question whether the Oars’ lifestyle is as primitive as it appears onscreen.

Nancy Oar has heard it all—and she’s had enough. “People think they know us because they watch us on TV,” she says, sitting at her kitchen table in the small Florida home she now shares with Tom. “But so much of what’s out there is just not true.”

Rumors of Tom’s Death

Perhaps the most persistent rumor is that Tom Oar has died. This claim, fueled by misleading social media posts and clickbait headlines, has circulated for years. But Nancy sets the record straight: “Tom is alive and well. He just turned 81 and is as stubborn as ever.”

Proof of Tom’s continued vitality comes from multiple sources. Kendra Schneiderman, a family friend, recently celebrated Tom’s birthday with the Oars. Tom’s sister-in-law, Connie Oar, posted on Facebook: “Today is December 21, 2024. Tom Oar just left my house. He’s doing fine. He’s out checking his traps on foot because his snowmobile isn’t working. He did not die.”

Nancy laughs at the rumors. “People have killed Tom off so many times online, I’ve lost count. He’s still here, still checking his trap lines, still driving me crazy.”

Leaving Montana: The Real Story

Another persistent rumor is that Tom and Nancy Oar abandoned their beloved Yak Valley homestead for good. For decades, the couple lived in a hand-built log cabin in the remote northwest corner of Montana, surviving by trapping, tanning hides, and crafting buckskin clothing using Native American methods. Their lifestyle was the very definition of “off the grid”—no electricity, no running water, just nature, skill, and grit.

But as Tom entered his 80s, the physical demands became too much. Health issues—including shortness of breath and heart problems—made the harsh winters increasingly dangerous. “It wasn’t an easy decision,” Nancy admits. “We loved that life. But you get older, and things change. We wanted to be closer to our kids and grandkids.”

So, after more than 40 years in the wilderness, the Oars moved to Florida. “It’s different,” Nancy says, “but we’re happy. We miss Montana, but we don’t regret the move.”

The Truth About “Mountain Men”

With the Oars’ departure from Montana came new rumors: that the show was staged, that the hardships were exaggerated, and that the Oars were living a double life. Nancy is candid about the realities of reality TV. “Of course some things are dramatized,” she says. “They want to make good television. But what you see is mostly real. We really did live that way. We really did tan hides, trap animals, and make everything by hand.”

Nancy admits that the presence of cameras sometimes changed the way things were done. “Sometimes they’d ask us to repeat something for a better shot, or they’d focus on the hardest parts of our day. But the work was real. The cold was real. The isolation was real.”

Tom, she says, was never interested in fame. “He just wanted to live his life. The show brought us more business for our crafts, but it didn’t change who we are.”

A Life Less Ordinary

Born in 1943 in Rockford, Illinois, Tom Oar was shaped by a family legacy of frontier living. His father, Chike Oar, was a celebrated figure in Wild West shows, and Tom grew up immersed in the culture of the American West. He spent over two decades as a rodeo cowboy, mastering the art of bronc riding and bull riding before turning to a quieter—but no less challenging—life in the mountains.

Nancy, too, was no stranger to hard work. She packed boxes for North American Van Lines before following Tom to Montana, where they built their own home and lived for years without modern conveniences. “At first, we didn’t even have running water. I carried five-gallon buckets from the creek,” Nancy recalls. “But it was worth it. That place fed our souls.”

The Realities of Mountain Living

The Oars’ life in Montana was far from easy. Winters were brutal, supplies scarce, and every day brought new challenges. But for Tom and Nancy, the hardships were part of the appeal. “We wanted to prove to ourselves that we could do it,” Nancy says. “It wasn’t about escaping society—it was about living on our own terms.”

Their skills—trapping, tanning, crafting—became both their livelihood and their legacy. Tom’s handmade beaver-felt hats and buckskin clothing were prized by collectors. “We never used a sewing machine,” Nancy says. “Everything was hand-stitched, just like the old days.”

The couple’s commitment to authenticity extended to their participation in mountain man rendezvous gatherings, where they’d sell their crafts and connect with others who shared their passion for traditional living.

Financial Realities and TV Fame

Despite their TV fame, the Oars never became wealthy. “People think we made millions from the show,” Nancy says, shaking her head. “That’s just not true.” Reports estimate Tom earned between $5,000 and $15,000 per episode, with a net worth around $200,000 to $250,000. “It was enough to get by, but we’re not rich. We still live simply.”

Their property in Montana—whether six acres or seventeen, depending on the source—was surrounded by vast public lands, allowing Tom to hunt and trap without asking permission. “We never owned much, but we had everything we needed,” Nancy says.

Family, Loss, and Legacy

Tom and Nancy’s marriage has endured the tests of time and wilderness. They had two children; tragically, their daughter Keeler passed away in 2015. Their son Chad still lives in Florida, and the move south was partly to be closer to family.

“Our life isn’t for everyone,” Nancy admits. “It’s hard. There’s no safety net. But we did it together, and that’s what matters.”

The Last Word

Now in Florida, Tom and Nancy Oar are enjoying a quieter life. Tom still works with his hands, still tells stories of the old days, still answers fan mail from around the world. Nancy, ever the pragmatist, is grateful for the years they had in Montana—and for the chance to set the record straight.

“People will always talk,” she says. “But we know the truth. We lived that life. We earned every gray hair and every wrinkle. And we’re still here.”

The Enduring Appeal of Tom and Nancy Oar

As reality TV continues to blur the line between fact and fiction, the story of Tom and Nancy Oar stands as a testament to authenticity. Their journey—from the rodeo rings of Illinois to the wilds of Montana and finally to a quiet corner of Florida—is proof that legends are made not by cameras, but by character.

And as Nancy Oar finally confirms, the rumors may come and go, but the truth endures. Tom Oar, mountain man, is alive, well, and still living life on his own terms.

Because in a world of myths and rumors, sometimes the simplest truth is the most extraordinary of all.