L-BF graduate Randy Newberg is on the Outdoor Channel, and he’s promoting a message influenced greatly by his roots in Big Falls.
Randy Newberg grew up hunting in Big Falls. Now he’s taken that passion for the outdoors — and his average Joe hunting tactics — to the Outdoor Channel.
“Growing up in Big Falls, let’s face it, there’s not much to do but hunt and fish,” Newberg said, noting school used to be closed during deer season.
Newberg, a 1983 graduate of Littlefork-Big Falls High School, is the host of “On Your Own Adventures,” and the premise for the show is like no other of its kind, except it relates to the majority of hunters.
“On Your Own Adventures,” also known as OYOA, features Newberg on non-guided hunts, something you won’t find on one of the other 350 outdoor TV shows. No guides, no fences, no herds of 50 tame 10-pointers running around in the middle of the day (unless they get extremely lucky). Newberg has stepped into the difficult dimension of filming non-guided hunts, and the early results are something to brag about.
“The feedback has been amazing, from the sponsors and the networks and most importantly, from the average hunters,” Newberg said.
After airing the premiere episode twice on July 3 and another time on July 5, Newberg awoke that Monday, July 6, with more than 200 responses on his e-mail account. The first episode — a public land elk hunt in Wyoming — was so successful, in fact, that the Outdoor Channel gave Newberg an extra airing during the second week.
“That’s been the big reward,” Newberg said. “To take a lifestyle of hunting that’s relevant to the average guy and take it to TV. I wanted to produce and tell a story about how hunting occurs to Joe Lunchbucket.”
Episode 3, a pronghorn hunt on public land in western New Mexico, airs at 12:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. today, and at 4 p.m. Sunday. The schedule will stay the same each week for each episode.
“It’s amazing how many people from the Falls and Littlefork have gotten in touch with me since word of this got out,” Newberg said.
AFTER BIG FALLS
Newberg, nicknamed “Big Fin” on the show’s Web site, left the Big Falls area in 1984 to attend college in Arizona. And after marrying his wife Kim, the couple eventually made their way to Bozeman, Mont., in 1990. They haven’t moved since, and there’s a major reason why.
“It’s like growing up in Big Falls with 30,000 people in Bozeman,” said Newberg, a certified public accountant by trade.
People live for hunting in Montana, and it’s been the setting for the creation of OYOA.
ANNOYED WITH THE NORM
Hunting shows feature trophy game, once-in-a-lifetime hunts and major adrenaline rushes — things Newberg is hoping for, as well — but the difference with OYOA is it doesn’t cost the hunter the price of a small country to accomplish, and it relates to 97 percent of the hunting public, according to Newberg.
“It takes some value and purpose away from hunting from the rank and file guys,” he said about expensive, guided hunts. “Everyone is shooting big bucks and big bulls. Everyone knows everyone doesn’t have $15,000 to go to some elk preserve.”
Which is why Newberg became frustrated with outdoor programming in the first place.
After getting diagnosed in 2005 with portal vein thrombosis, a rare liver condition, Newberg was told after a week’s stay at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester that he needed more rest.
“That turned into watching way too much outdoor TV,” he said.
His level of annoyance grew with each guided hunt, and his son Matthew, who will be a sophomore at Cornell University (N.Y.), persuaded him to purchase cameras and editing equipment.
“We’re not video experts and we’re not trained producers, but we caught some pretty good stuff,” Newberg said.
Three years later after spending time filming hunts for himself, family and friends, a production company picked up on the quality of Newberg’s work and asked him to build a show around the idea of on your own hunting.
Three weeks into the real deal on the Outdoor Channel, Newberg’s enthusiasm is evident, thanks to a boatload of positive feedback and a love of the outdoors brewed from Big Falls.
“There’s no place I’ve been to where hunting is so in the culture than Koochiching County,” he said.
And can the show be successful?
Non-guided hunting shows have failed in the past due to the much higher costs, but Newberg is convinced his show can be the one out of the 350 guided shows that sticks.
“Success would be to have more people talking about the average guy,” he said.
ON THE WEB
Newberg’s Web site can be viewed at www.onyourownadventures.com.
E-mail comments from public land elk hunt in Wyoming — Episode No. 1
“I love the Outdoor Channel. I watch it more than any other channel. Today I watched “On Your Own Adventures.” The best hunting show on TV, hands down. No guides. No high fences! This is the way most of us hunt. This show was so good, even my wife watched and commented after the show that we should make it a point to watch it every week. I will be watching “On Your Own Adventures” every week! Thank you for bringing the viewers a show that portrays hunting the way most of us hunt!!!”
—Christian Appel
“Finally a real hunting show about real hunting experiences, rather than shooting pet animals behind a high fence or so protected that they are tame.”
—Bruce Bochy
“I LOVE the concept and look forward to watching your show. Costs of leases and private hunts are too much for me. I take my kids and hunt public ground. I am always looking for new tactics and willing to learn from others’ experiences to improve our hunting experience. Thank you for doing this.”
—Roy Spillman
“Finally a hunt that REAL hunters or at least those of us without a ton of cash can participate in and do take part in all across the country. Please be sure to keep me posted on when we can view your shows and rest assured, I will spread the word to my friends to watch it as well. Hope this endeavor turns out even better than you had ever hoped in your wildest dreams as this is the story that needs to be told. Thank you for your efforts sir!”
—John Paczkowski
“This is by far the best hunting show I’ve ever seen. This really does tell the truth of what REALLY happens out there. This is the only way we hunt. Keep up the good work. I look forward to more shows. I’ll be letting everyone know about your show.”
—Cassie Walker
“Love the show. I am a public land hunter and seem to be successful. It is good to see real hunting filmed in real settings.”
—Kole Moulton
For photos, pick up today's edition of The Daily Journal.
