A HOMEtown Hunt! | Reuniting with Family & Friends

#hunting #tradtion #whitetailhunt
Randy heads to his hometown to hunt whitetail bucks with his brother Jason. But really, this is more than a whitetail hunt. Follow along as Randy explains how this small town shaped him into the man he is today!
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[@PatrickSoch]

Well, I hate to call you old, Randy :), but maybe you'll accept that your reflections back on the decades of your life have added a wisdom, beauty, and poignant truth to your hunting content. Having just turned 50 myself, I really appreciate these pieces. Thanks for all you do for public lands and hunting traditions.

[@patrickburgmeier7902]

To understand a person, you have to understand their past, to understand their present, to understand their future. Thank you for sharing Randy.

[@johnenlow2985]

Thank you! I'm 55 years old and have a 13 year old son. He has ask a few times if he could invite a friend along on our hunting trips and I have said no in the past. As I think about it, maybe I was being selfish wanting the time for the two of us. Now as you have shared your dad's story, I feel I should say yes in order to share what is near and dear to my heart. I've always taken kids hunting and fishing when ever I could before I had kids of my own. Thank you for putting the future into perspective.

[@normankaster917]

Also when you're gone, your son will still be hunting with him, and both of them will be remembering the ol man that helped them into the outdoors and helped create a life long friendship.

[@BobCollins-fh9om]

Thank you Randy! You brought back so many memories of my dad. He too was a very giving man. He was a hunter safety instructor for the state of Virginia for over 25 years. Love to take anyone out hunting. He also enjoyed sharing the rewards of the successful hunt.

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Glad it took you back! Thanks for watching!

[@ronaldirvineII]

Idk why but this is my favorite fresh tracks episode out of all them. Idk if something about it just touches a certain part of my soul or if its the fact every new episode is my favorite one 😂

[@BrettCarpenter1]

As a kid who's father was not a sportsman I lived on the hunting stories of my Grandfather's and hunting was instilled upon me by those men around me that were willing to reach out and take a random neighbor kid hunting and fishing. I can relate to you and men like your father as I was also going through a rough time as a young kid and it was the selfless acts of those other men who truly made a difference. Thanks for a great episode!!

[@normankaster917]

Thanks for taking us with ya Randy. Your dad was six years older than my dad, and they passed in the same year, my dad passed on January 23 2004 I was 19 years old. I want you to know that I look up to you, all the info you have shared really helps fill in some of the missing puzzle pieces we call the outdoors that my dad would of helped me with. Thanks for all you do Randy you do a great job at filling in the gap.

[@mikeearls3048]

Love that you still can go back home and give back to your roots and family.

[@paulwaldon8362]

Thanks Randy. This brings back so many memories of my youth, hunting with Grandpa, Dad and uncles in the Northwoods of MN.

[@dcskamau]

One of the best fresh tracks recently. True steward of the game..

[@robertslusher3116]

Warms my heart that communities like this exist. Took me back to northern Ohio muskrat trapping, rabbit hunting and missing a doe my senior year in high school that has led to a lifetime passion. Good for you to support this community

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Thanks for watching!

[@jordanellie900]

Can’t even express how much I love this Randy. I can’t get on board with your Vikings ( Go Pack Go!) but this reminds me so very much of my childhood in northern WI. I still head back from Colorado to hunt whitetails in WI every fall with the family. Thank you so much for sharing where you came from and what made you who you are today.

[@christianniem844]

Again thank you Randy. This was really special to me. My own dad just passed last may and this made me think a lot about him and the time we spent together hunting in Pa. I just returned home to Az from Pa to get his and my moms house ready to rent it was a bit overwhelming and emotional. My mom now lives near me in assisted living here in Tucson. I moved here as a young man in 93 to go to college I dont know what happened but I somehow turned 55 just a week ago in Pa. I took my own son back to the Alleghany national forest where I learned to hunt and fish for a few days as a reminder of where I came from and how it shaped me and to pass that on to my kids. I am almost weepy have to go.

[@glennvanhorn4667]

Thanks for sharing. Family hunting traditions are very important!

[@BDJans]

So cool, I never knew you were from this area Randy. My extended family live in between Little Fork and Big Falls and we've gotten together every year for deer camp/hunting since I was little kid. It all started with my great-great-grandfather and his sons back in the day. As the family has branched out we all still get together every November. The hunting has always been tough but hanging out with everyone and enjoying the experience is what it is all about. Awesome video, thanks Randy.

[@michaelduncan2759]

Than you for this content, Randy being the same age, and coming up with the same hunting traditions in Pennsylvania I really appreciated this video.

[@EricRush]

One of my favorite Fresh Tracks.

[@timmaher1989]

Thank you for sharing not just your love of hunting but of assisting whenever and wherever you can. I can honestly say that your Dad’s influence on your life is clear to see. Thanks and keep on doing what you do best sharing your passion!

[@jeffellis383]

Randy, I have watched pretty much all of your videos. I can say without a doubt this one is the most rewarding of them all.

[@ScottCarlson-cz7wj]

Thanks for the great MN video. I was raised in Brooklyn Park, MN. I'm 61. I did a lot of fishing but, was only taken hunting a few times as a kid. My first trip was with a fiberglass long bow and 3 arrows up on my folks 40 acres by Glen, MN. I have raised my 3 sons and 2 daughters hunting here in western WA. They are comfortable in the woods and eating wild game. My wife makes a mean bear meatloaf. You met 2 of my boys at the Portland show and they showed you pix of their big blacktail racks. I keep a photo of you with them at the show and, keep it on a shelf with other hunt/fish/camp memories. Thanks for playing a big part Randy.

[@Lexidezi225]

Randy will shoot a grouse with a spit wad if he has too 😂😂😂

[@tomgriffith8364]

Born in Littlefork in 1951, lived in Mizpah, moved to Oregon 50 yrs ago. You are spot on about the people and culture. It is still apart of me too and love me some partridge.

[@jamesmarken8395]

Loved the show, Randy. I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t know you were from Big Falls. I knew somewhere in northern MN, but not exactly where. Coupled with your most recent podcast, talking about the Rainy, Loman, Birchdale - was really cool. You walked by me yesterday walking down Concourse A in Mpls - I was standing at Gate A8 waiting for the flight to Bemidji - enroute home to Baudette. Very familiar with everywhere you mentioned. Really wanted to follow you and chat, but it you were obviously enroute somewhere. Anyway, I moved to Baudette 36 years ago, with a bug to fish. Had never hunted big game then, only partridge. But my first fall here, through help of some good mentors, I was indoctrinated. Took a big doe, but was as happy as if it were a big buck. Was also introduced to the long standing tradition of deer camps. There are some well known camps around LOW county, and it becomes a great diversion when it gets a bit too cold and need a break. I hadn’t hunted outside of Northern MN until a trip to Montana with a buddy for mule deer. Got some time to make up there, but won’t miss a rifle season here at home. Again, loved the show.

[@quintonnice5339]

Excellent episode, and a great tribute to your dad. Worth the watch!

[@shellidickferguson67]

One of my favorite episodes, you truly captured what deer season in Big Falls is all about

[@weekender38]

For all you do for others, THANKS!

[@stevemoyer8013]

The deer drives brought me back in time to when I was a kid doing deer drives here in Washington state with my Dad,Grandpa and other relatives that moved here from Park Rapids and Bemidji. Thank you Randy for taking me back.

[@davidowens3069]

Randy, I have been watching your platform for a long long time. This undoubtedly is one of the best if not the best episode I have seen. I live in Southwestern IL and stand hunting and deer camps is what we do. I can still remember my first deer hunt in 1972 like it was yesterday. Watching this made many memories flood back.

[@hearstdaman2269]

Well, that was an emotional roller coaster ride! You took me home in a way that no other video could. We had a cabin on island lake outside of northome. I spent my entire youth exploring, fishing, and hunting up there. There was nothing like visiting the various hunting camps during deer season and hearing all of the stories. Dad is gone now, and the cabin is, too. I rarely get back to that part of Minnesota these days, but you sure got me there tonight! Thanks, Randy. I needed that. Hearst

[@bearrivercacheco.2356]

Love the pic with you and dad where you're wide mouth smiling

[@westside8270]

Heck yeah Randy!

[@rileycollins6557]

Thanks for doing this Randy. Really was nice to watch!

[@h2olove]

I really love this. My parents were from a small, northern town. The deer camp in particular resonated with me.

[@gregbobrowich7]

I am from just north of Winnipeg Manitoba Canada. I'm 53 yrs old. Neat watching Randy in his back home town hunting with his family and brings back memories of hunting with my dad and uncles back in the day. My uncles also used to call what I know as Ruff Grouse as Partridges. Neat to see how even country borders don't separate family and community traditions. Thanks for the look into your past Randy.

[@loupuleff571]

Geez Randy this is both a sad and Happy video I'm happy for you that you got to experience your home and all your friends again but sad because it reminds me of the times I had many years ago growing up in my hometown that are gone it breaks my heart to not share those experiences anymore it has left a huge gaping hole in my heart. By the way your Dad was a great guy for helping all those kids you were lucky guy to have him !!!

[@jimothyrubie4638]

Love the yellow chore gloves Jason!

[@chrispbrown271]

Best video you have released. Thank you for sharing a part of what made you the person you are.

[@jacobbrownfield5753]

Beautiful video, might be my favorite! Very heart warming.

[@rodbender5453]

This was an amazing video Randy and his team. The hunting culture is a wonderful thing.

[@kentuuri8272]

This was a great heartfelt video thank you for sharing a part of your life Randy✌️

[@elkhunter76]

Wonderful video Randy!

[@rwchidester]

Outstanding work OYOA. I did not want this one to end. Thanks for sharing.

[@greggsayranian2942]

Enjoyed that a lot. Thanks for sharing Randy.

[@chetmaschke3579]

Love the video. as someone who got his start hunting the big woods of northern minnesota, this video hits home. some of my favorite memories deer hunting are shared with friends in family in the north woods.

[@ericwaletzko]

Amazing stories and video Randy. I very much enjoyed this one.

[@Rcfreak57]

Good stuff Randy. This video made me just sit back and have a flood of memories of hunting and fishing.

[@ryansmart9395]

Randy, what a great episode. I also hunt in Koochiching County, closer to the Rainy where there are a lot more deer than the big woods around Big Falls. The Bigfork is one of my favorite rivers and I try to fish it every year during my annual trip home. Keep up the great episodes!

[@jordanhannahduncan626]

My favorite episode! Loved to see you going back to your hometown. Would love to see more videos like this. Love all your content! Way to set a good example with your positive attitude!

[@rodrydavis6694]

Loved this video! Can’t beat a grouse for some delicious eating! I spent 5 months in 2019 (May-October) guiding kids fishing on the Gunflint Trail. Spent all my free time in late September and October grouse hunting then took my two sons back there in 2020 to grouse hunt. 2020 was at least twice as good as 2019 for numbers of birds

[@joshegle7922]

Wonderful video. This is such a great message and hope the new generations of hunters get to hear stories like theese

[@Okie-BME]

I am not from the MN, or any of the northern states like WI, MI, MN, or the northwest MT, WY, ID, but here in Oklahoma (in the SE corner of our state) is a heavy wooded three counties rich in timbering. I grew up doing almost exactly the same things you showed (camps, types of hunts, etc.). The area is still logged today, again not the same as it was, but the traditions, comradery, sportsmanship, conservation, etc. are the same as those in your hometown and they still continue today. Thanks for what you do, and I hope it inspires us to do the same (teach, share, give back).

[@bottompin796]

Awesome video Randy! I was born and raised in Int’l Falls, my folks still live on the Linford Road, brings back a lot great memories from up there!

[@grisseldog]

This was an outstanding video I really enjoyed watching you back home with your friends and family. The old hunt camps were very interesting, brings back memories of my youth hunting days. Thanks Randy Hammer Down

[@samjurden3410]

Thanks Randy awesome video over 40 years at same deer camp in Michigan UP 👊

[@russtietje294]

Great video Randy ! I grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota- I can relate to the hunting with friends I grew up with ! Thanks for this video

[@EllenJohn4]

Great episode, Randy.

[@anthonymedeck7081]

My first Deer hunting adventures were with my Dad. He and a couple other gents had a old Bus with a lean to built off of one side of it. It was where the Big Fork crossed Hwy 6 up by Effie. They had that shack up there on public land for about 10 years until one season we came up to check stands before the season and DNR had a sign on it about getting it off of that land. After that we just hunted by our cabin just north of Deer River. There wasn’t many Deer back then 1972-1975 when I started. I think they even closed the season one of those years. Good times though, I’ll never forget them.

[@travishat8760]

Awesome episode!

[@martycody1422]

Thanks Randy for the great video, It was a great tribute to everyone living in Big Falls. I guess I missed you when you were up there. Love the story's about Delbert , I miss him and all the things he used to do and story's he would tell out at Wiebe's trailer. Nice job, thanks you for everything you do.

[@everythingloud4068]

This was one of my favorite fresh tracks

[@brianbailey2422]

Thank you Randy. I grew up in Ely, and have so many fond memories of deer camp and hunting with my dad. He recently passed away and I had a chance to get up there to see him. I'm so full of regret to allow 30 years to pass and I'm sad to not have raised my kids with the WAY I grew up. I allowed life to cloud my existence and just recently picked up hunting after three decades. Living in Phoenix, I had no idea how to get started again. However, watching your channel and education with onX and GoHunt, I was able to get back to my roots. This year I drew a buck and two doe tags in WY, a bull elk in CO, and of course all the OTC archery deer hunting here in AZ. Oh yeah, taking my pup back to SD to go pheasant hunting. With any luck, I'll see some blue/dusky grouse to harvest. Hate to say it, but they taste a lot better than our "partridge" tasted ;-). While I can't seem to find a consistent "deer camp" to be part of, I am getting out there as much as I can as a solo hunter and have found a few good friends out of it all. Maybe I'll run into you, Marcus, Michael, or any of the other crew out on the trail. I just wanted to say again, thank you for the encouragement to get out there, even at 51 years old. You're an inspiration to the young and some of us salt and peppers. So is Randy one of the best? You betcha'!!!

[@lonnygehring3043]

Great episode, Randy. It looks like a fantastic community and great place to grow up. Thanks for sharing your hometown with us.

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Thanks for watching!

[@jduesenberg]

Love to see this episode. Was just up in that area yesterday. Saw a healthy amount of deer.

[@cnggack]

Loved this episode of my home away from home Big Falls I’ve been bear hunting there since 1982 out at Giant Pine Campground moving to Ben Lynn campground in 1990 I saw my first two Grandsons get their first bear last year and I have a tag this year my ashes will be in a bear bait just love that town and the people!! Great show and thanks for helping them!!

[@rangeishot21BG]

Excellent episode

[@Longtrailside]

Thnk you for bringing us along, apprecieate it.

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Our pleasure!

[@rodneyrote6261]

One of your best videos

[@RonJKuschel1901]

Great video I grew up in Central Minnesota and I have spent a lot of time hunting and fishing up in the little fork Ray and international Falls area I know how Special of an area that is up there this video definitely reflects That thank you for producing!!!!

[@randycarpenter2914]

Enjoyed it very much.

[@jimothyrubie4638]

Fantastic story! Thank you!

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Our pleasure! Thanks for watching!

[@shuswapbcoutdoors8652]

As well as hunting and fishing, I already knew Randy and I had our occupation in common (I'm a retired CPA in BC, Canada) but from this video I noticed that our dad's were similar too: both born in 1941 and both died at the young age of 62. Interesting coincidences, now if only I could find a way to fulfill the only thing in my bucket list: To hunt with Randy Newberg.

[@billmoran935]

Great video

[@reapergrim76]

This is great stuff! 👍🏻 😊

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Thanks for the visit!

[@twalt29]

time of year for another SHOP STORY!!!

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Maybe soon!?

[@bearfishing5817]

Truly, that's what it's all about. Be thankful for the old guy you didn't understand as a youth and pass what you have learned to the new generation

[@timgallagher393]

Right down the road from you !

[@itsobvious5835]

I'm camping in the Big Falls City Campground this October. Grouse and Woodcock.

[@akhillz]

very interesting

[@BirchBarkOutdoors]

This made my 44 year old self tear up. I grew up in Minnesota and the hunting tradition there is very strong which I am so thankful for. I am one of those kids that thankfully had someone reach out to take me out hunting. As a young teen in a unstable home I was able to grab my air rifle or bow and head outside for hours and explore the woods. I grew up wishing I was Marty Stouffer and stole my dad's vhs camcorder. I was able to sneak inside of 15 yards of a buck guarding a hot doe and start filming it. I had no idea that the narrator used post production to add the commentary so I tried my best to give some kind of commentary which I had not prepared. Ultimately the deer spooked and my dad recorded some rerun episodes of Abbott and Castello over my tape. That memory never will get written over on and the love of hunting became an obsession. Older I get the more I realize that obsession was not actually hunting but the escape of my reality into nature where stress of my environment goes away. Other than turkeys I haven't shot a big game animal since my moose in 2020 but have had some of my best years hunting. I take my boys hunting and find much more joy in seeing them hunt than my own hunt. I feel robbed in so many ways that even though there was a lot of people who either gave money or time to get me into the field to hunt that it never could replace what a father would have been able to give me. All those broken promises of time together came through the day I got the call he passed. I was sitting in my lund pro v I spent every spare penny on with my wife and two boys. I couldn't tell you how many fish we caught that day or who caught the biggest but I know I sat there watching them all fish thinking I did it... I am the dad I wanted to have and see the smiles of my boys makes my life what I want it to be.

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Wow. That's a powerful story and pretty close to my story.

[@Game_Stalker_MN]

Great video. I love seeing people getting together to hunt, a tradition that is fading away.

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kenbennefield9274]

Great story .

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Thanks for listening!

[@robgrubb420]

permagrin after the grouse hunt.

[@lindasmith3317]

Grew up north of Bemidji. Whole family of loggers. Ran off to the marines at 17 to not be a logger. Small game, deer, bear and fish were bountiful in 60/70s. Sad to see the old homestead last year. Olsons Johnson’s and Swenson all moved away. Deer herd decimated, saw 1 doe in a week. Sad.

[@wynott5128]

Man that was a pretty coyote cool white coat.

[@jacobnelson870]

Those camps are so cool! Wish I could find stuff like that here in missouri! I know a couple people with cool places but they’re too far spread apart to enjoy dropping in on everyone like that!

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Yes they are!

[@russtietje294]

Sorry for your dad’s struggles Randy- 63 is too young- RIP Delbert!

[@Northwoods2878]

I love are deer camp in northern Wisconsin. We had 13 from that original group it’s just me and my dad now. Life is to short go. Go find your adventure because it’s your land and water. One day it could be gone.

[@timkaldahl]

Yellow work gloves with a pair of brown jersey gloves inside, or choppers with wool liners. We knew how to stay warm.

[@roymyers8575]

Miss my Indiana grouse feeds

[@3633jd]

I love the video. My hunting camp is in Bigfork MN and that is the way I grew up hunting also. It's a shame as these camps are shrinking.

[@danieljarosz5140]

Great story! Northwoods is just as good as any Elk hunt.

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Thanks for watching!

[@jasonwebb4871]

Reminds me of the old days when my dad and I would take turns driving for each other during black powder season in Iowa.

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Glad it took you back! The ole deer drive can be pretty fun! Thanks for watching!

[@RaymondDM]

❤❤❤❤

[@MasterTheHunt23]

Looks like a very cool place to hunt deer!

[@coreystoner4129]

Idk about anyone else but I will stand hunt when needed but if I’m with my buddies I know for a fact we are going to do a bunch of deer drives. It’s fun and can be a fast way to fill tags

[@Piratedavessaltylife]

Here is the reality. People like warm climate. We thrive in it. Minnesota and the North was great when Americans expanded after the Civil War and had free land and help to set roots. Today, we are more able to travel fast via car or plane and experience the woods of Minnesota or Montana or Colorado and go back home. Those little towns will dry up more and more as people prosper.

[@bradithompson4733]

Minnesota was a great place to grow up as a kid hunting fishing, trapping, sad to day the DNR has become very poor and unpleasant in the region I grew up in

[@haroldbleemel8537]

Not every day you see someone shoot a grouse with a 7mm=08? LOL. Sure makes me miss my pops. :(

[@PonderosaOutdoors-20-gauge]

Amazing and grounding video, Randy - thank you and to your film crew, family and friends. I so deeply appreciate you articulating the sharing culture in hunting. I wish this were far more widespread, and maybe your video can help that a little. One genuine question: In a deer drive like that, how is hunter safety procedurally maintained (other than obvious line of sight and blaze orange) so that the person doing the driving toward the hunter doesn't accidentally get shot (eg a wayward shot or ricochet, etc etc).

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Thanks for the kind comments. As for safety, there are shooting lanes and non-shooting lanes. No shooting toward the area where the drivers are coming from. So, you end up with a less than 180 degree shooting angle and thus the reason standers are placed in the logged areas.

[@daverichardson4183]

Randy, which caliber were you shooting Grouse with? 😄