While hunting with his grandson, veteran wildlife officer Steve Dunne discovers the remains of a man, the apparent victim of a mountain lion attack. Steve is anxious to warn his Perry County, PA neighbors and hunt down the big cat. The game commission insists that mountain lions no longer roam the state, and special interests claim that hunting is too important to the local economy to cause a panic. After DNA evidence disappears and more victims fall prey, Steve defies the authorities and goes public. Having forced the issue, the game commission hires a Native American mountain lion expert, Dr. Alex Lightfoot, to help Steve track the elusive creature. Together they unravel a conspiracy even more sinister than a rogue mountain lion.