Ben is a college geology student who works as a hunting guide in his small desert hometown to pay for his education. Raised by his uncle after his parents died, he possesses extensive knowledge of the local terrain and bighorn sheep. He is analytical and highly moral, finding himself out of his element when confronted with the cutthroat worldview of his client.

Madec is a wealthy, ruthless businessman from Los Angeles who hires Ben to guide him on a bighorn sheep hunt. Married with two children, he approaches life as a harsh competition where success justifies any deception. He views himself as superior to the locals and assumes his financial resources can buy him out of any legal or moral trouble.

An unidentified prospector living a rugged existence in the California high desert. He maintains a well-outfitted camp in the harsh terrain, possessing tools and survival items. His sudden death triggers the central conflict between the guide and the hunter.

Ben's uncle raised him after the death of Ben's parents. He is a local resident who secures legal counsel for his nephew following the desert incident. He understands the realities of the town's legal system but struggles to reconcile the outlandish stories he hears with the boy he raised.

Eugene Strick is a young deputy sheriff in the isolated desert town. He is highly focused on following strict procedural rules regarding injuries and fatalities. His youth and inexperience make him a rigid enforcer of the law as written.

Dr. Saunders is a young doctor on duty at the local hospital. Nicknamed "Boy Genius," he serves as a contrast to the older, more experienced town doctor. He meticulously catalogs injuries and observes the behavior of the men brought into his care.

Sergeant Hamilton is the established sheriff of the desert town. He represents the older, traditional authority in the community, contrasting with his younger deputy. He coordinates the response of local officials to major incidents.

The town's justice of the peace presides over local legal inquiries. He struggles to comprehend extreme human cruelty, defaulting to logical, everyday explanations when confronted with bizarre circumstances.