September 13, 2022 |  By Rachelle Schrute

Randy Newberg is known far and wide as an expert in the realm of public land hunting.

If you ask any hunter to name another well-known hunter they respect, you’ll likely hear the name Randy Newberg. And he’s not just an incredibly skilled hunter who finds success every season hunter, but also a dedicated conservationist and steward for wild game and wild places.

Whether you follow his adventures on Fresh Tracks, Instagram, or YouTube, there’s no denying that Randy knows what he’s doing when it comes to chasing elk.

When Randy was asked if there was anything in particular that people should know about what he does or how he hunts, he answered in the typical “Uncle Randy” fashion. “If an aging CPA can kill an elk on public land, anyone can,” he said with a bit of self-deprecating humor. “Elk hunting is a mental game more than anything.”

But what gear does Randy (or his llamas) carry into the field to find that success? Well, that’s what we’re here to tackle.

Editor’s note: As with most professionals and experts in their field, many of the products on this list are likely connected via endorsement, sponsorship, or ambassadorship. Though it does not negate the value of the product, it is absolutely worth noting.

OK, no more talk, no more fluff. Here is Randy Newberg’s hunting kit.

Randy carries either the Mystery Ranch Metcalf (above left) or the Mystery Ranch Beartooth 80 (above right). The Metcalf is capable of most hunting scenarios, but if you’re looking to go out longer and pack out heavier, moving up to the Beartooth 80 is a solid choice.

For more hunting pack options, check out our list of Best Hunting Packs.

Check Metcalf Price at ScheelsCheck Beartooth Price at Scheels

It shouldn’t surprise you that Randy carries a rifle that bears his name. The Howa “Randy Newberg” Series Model 1500 ($1,510) isn’t just cool because of its namesake. The Model 1500 is available in just about every caliber you could possibly need to get the job done.

Check Price at Howa Guns

When it comes to deer hunting, it doesn’t get much better than the Nosler .308 Win 165 grain Partition ($79), which is a big reason it’s one of Randy’s go-to rounds.

For a bit bigger bang, Mr. Newberg moves on up to the Nosler .300 Win mag 180-grain E-tip ($79), capable of taking down some seriously hefty critters.

Leupold is an industry leader when it comes to optics. The VX5-HD 3-15x44mm Rifle Scope($1,010) is what Randy trusts to ensure his target is dialed.

Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Scheels

The Gerber Exchange Blade System ($68) is a one-stop shop for every blade you could possibly need, all in one knife.

It’s no surprise that it’s what you find in Randy’s hunting gear pile. It’s a sweet setup with easily changeable blades in a variety of shapes and purposes. It also doesn’t hurt that it has his name emblazoned on the opposite side.

Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Gerber

Game bags are a modern necessity when big game hunting, and Caribou Game Bags ($79) are Randy’s sack-o-preference for 2022. Things have come a long way since the pillowcases of my youth.

Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Scheels

The Leupold BX-5 Binos ($580-1,400) would have been a dream for me growing up, and they’re what Randy carries in his harness on hunts.

Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Scheels

Bino harnesses have become all the rage. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t wear one now. The Sitka Mountain Optics Harness ($159) is a popular choice. It’s one of the larger binocular harnesses and has ample storage room for anything you need to have easily accessible. It makes sense that Randy recently made the change to the Sitka option.

Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Sitka

Eye strain when glassing for long periods of time is brutal. If you’re going to spend hours staring through a spotter, it’s worth going with quality. The Leupold SX-5 Spotting Scope ($1,500) isn’t cheap, but it’s worth it. If you’re sitting on a hillside, public land hunting, as much as Randy does, it makes sense to invest in quality glass.

Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Scheels

With Kenetrek being right in Randy’s backyard, it makes sense that he’d choose the Mountain Guide Boot ($535). These boots are one of the best rated in the game, and they’ve got the oomph to get you pretty much anywhere you need to be.

Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Scheels

The Sitka Timberline Pant ($259) is the hunting pant these days, so it makes sense that they’d be Randy’s go-to pant in his hunting gear pile. These pants are also available in women’s versions, and my pair have been nearly worn to death. They really are the hardiest hunting pants out there.

Check Men’s Price at AmazonCheck Women’s Price at Amazon

The Sitka Jetstream Jacket ($379) got an upgrade this year, though it was a stellar choice before the improvements. Also available in women’s (camo patterns and solid colors!), it’s an excellent outer layer for both cutting early-season evening chill and layering for the later parts of the year.

Check Price at SitkaCheck Price at Scheels

Wool baselayers are the way to go, and the Sitka Merino Core Lightweight Half Zip ($149) is what Randy chooses for his next-to-skin layer. It’s lightweight and breathable when exposed to air, yet super insulating if layered under solid outerwear.

Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Sitka

GOHUNT ($20-150/year) is more than just a mapping system. It’s more like an all-encompassing hunting organization, with a gear shop, mapping software, hunting news, a hunt planner, and more. It really isn’t like anything else out there, and it’s Randy’s choice for mapping software to determine where those public land boundaries are. Though you can’t really put GOHUNT in your hunting gear pile, you can use it to buy things for the pile.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to hunt from Randy, he’s also one of the pro instructors at GOHUNT’s OutdoorClass.

The Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls Wapiti Whacker Bugle Tube ($52) is a pretty common choice when it comes to elk call aids. You can use it with any of your preferred diaphragm calls, it’s lightweight, and I see this tube in the truck of most of my hunting buddies. It also happens to be the preferred tube for many of the pros, Randy included.

Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Scheels

Not just Gastro Gnome, but specifically Sausage Rigatoni ($17). That is Randy’s backpacking food guilty pleasure. I mean, take a look at the ingredients. It’s made of real food:

Roasted Tomatoes (tomatoes, citric acid, calcium chloride), Onion, Roasted Red Peppers, Ground Pork, Heavy Cream, Pasta (semolina, durum flour, vitamin B3, iron, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, folic acid), Fennel, Spinach, Chicken Broth (onions, carrots, celery, spices), Garlic, Parsley, Butter, Basil, Salt, Black Peppercorn, Fennel Seed, Chili Flake, Rosemary Extract. Contains: wheat, milk.

When a company is inspired by you so much that they name a coffee after an iconic bull that your grandfather told stories about … you drink that coffee. Since Randy is constantly after Big Hank, he obviously chooses to carry Elk Horn Coffee Roasters Big Hank Coffee ($15) in his pack.

Check Sausage Rigatoni Price at Gastro GnomeCheck Coffee Price at Elk Horn

Randy loves hunting with pack llamas. He often wanders into the wild with Beau Baty of Wilderness Ridge Trail Llamas. He even took the leap and bought one of his own a few years back, initiating a heated llama naming contest.

To be honest, I’m still sore that he didn’t choose The Dilly Llama, in honor of his love of Dairy Queen.

As a fifth-generation Montanan, Rachelle Schrute comes from a long line of western hunters and anglers. Born in western Montana, she spent countless days chasing mountain elk and mountain trout with her family. She is heavily involved in Montana's conservation and wildlife management practices and has served in leadership roles within multiple conservation organizations. Rachelle is a certified Wilderness First Responder, and often spends her summers as a Wilderness Guide in Yellowstone National Park. When not gear testing or writing, you can likely find her hunting, hiking, fishing, and cooking wild game with her two children.

We tested the best winter boots for women in 2022, including winter hiking boots, snow boots, extra-warm boots, and winter rain boots.

© Copyright 2022 GearJunkie, All Rights Reserved