Ep 17. The Buck Stops Here

In the Newhart season 6 episode 17 titled The Buck Stops Here, viewers are introduced to the charming town of Pickford, Vermont, where Dick Loudon and his wife Joanna have moved from the bustling city. In this episode, Dick is running for town council and is busy campaigning. He is up against three local residents, including Chester Wanamaker, an eccentric sheep farmer who is known for his peculiar behavior.

As Dick goes door-to-door, he stops at Chester's home to ask for his vote. Chester invites Dick in and begins to tell him about a recent hunting trip he went on. He shows Dick a large buck he killed and mounted on his wall. Dick is impressed with the buck and mentions that he would like to go hunting himself someday.

Later, Chester comes to visit Dick at the Stratford Inn, where he is staying. He tells Dick that he wants to take him hunting and promises to show him the best spots in the area. Dick agrees, and the two set out early the next morning.

While on the hunt, Dick and Chester come across a group of hunters who are also in the area. One of the hunters mistakes Dick for a deer and shoots him in the behind with a pellet gun. Despite the injury, Dick is determined to continue hunting.

As the day goes on, Dick and Chester become lost in the woods. They come across a cabin and decide to take shelter there for the night. The cabin turns out to be owned by the very hunters they saw earlier in the day. The hunters invite them to join them for dinner, and they accept.

At dinner, it becomes evident that the hunters are not the friendly group that they initially seemed to be. They mock Dick and Chester and offer them a meal of canned food and alcohol. When the hunters start passing around a gun and shooting it off, Dick and Chester realize that they need to leave the cabin before it's too late.

After fleeing the cabin, Dick and Chester finally make their way back to Pickford. At the town hall, Dick gives a speech about his experience and how it opened his eyes to the dangers of hunting. He announces that he will no longer be running for town council and vows to work towards preserving the area's wildlife.

The Buck Stops Here is a classic episode of Newhart that showcases the charm and humor of the show. While the episode touches on serious topics such as hunting and conservation, it does so with a light touch and plenty of laughs along the way. Fans will love watching Dick and Chester navigate their way through the woods and trying to find their way back to safety. Ultimately, the episode delivers an important message about the importance of preserving nature and respecting wildlife.