To mark his passage to manhood, Clyde McAllister takes his son, John-Jo, hunting for a 12-point buck. They don't get a buck, another hunter shoots Clyde first. Before setting off to get help, John-Jo promises his father that he'll track down the shooter. Help arrives too late and John-Jo struggles to keep his family together as his alcoholic mother goes in and out of rehab and his young sister has trouble at school. The mission to keep his promise to find his father's killer becomes a constant background to his days. His search finally bears fruit, but the cost is high. He loses his family, his home and his girlfriend, to be left alone with his dog. Can he make a new life for himself?