I like to travel down dirt roads and just see if I can spot some interesting plants. For years I have been digging up a Fern to try and bring home. What is the trick to be able to dig one up out of the woods and plant it in a container part at home I have been unable to do so no matter what I try they always die. I currently have my longest survivor but it is not improving at all.

We grow Wood Fern at our greenhouse and transplant seedlings with no problem, our trick is keep then shaded and lots of moisture.
They even root on the walls of the greenhouse. Of course it is very moist in there.
I don't know which fern you are trying to transplant, but if you observe the growing conditions where they are and try to match those, it might work for you.
Good Luck.