Abstract: A pneumatically operated vertical clam shell mud bucket attaches to a pipe joint connection in a drill stem on a drilling rig, the mud bucket defining a first tubular section forming a half cylinder hingably attaching a second tubular section forming a half cylinder, the tubular sections forming a sealed cylinder which is forcible closed together by a plurality of pneumatic cylinders, each tubular section providing a perimeter groove within which is places a composition compression material forming a liquid seal containing drilling fluids from escaping the mud bucket when the mud bucket is closed during the drilling stem separation and connection process and evacuating the contained drilling fluids to a fluid recycling system on the drilling rig for reuse to maintain a cleaner and safer drill rig deck.