Joe is a Wyoming game warden living in Twelve Sleep County with his family. He earns a modest salary of $26,000 a year and is dedicated to his job and the Wyoming wilderness. Known for his rigid adherence to rules, he contrasts sharply with his legendary predecessor. Joe feels intense pressure to provide financially for his pregnant wife and children while maintaining his ethical standards during a new murder investigation.

Vern is Joe's mentor and the former game warden of Twelve Sleep County. He left his lifelong position to take a high-paying job at InterWest Resources, an energy pipeline company. He maintains a jovial exterior and a legendary reputation among the locals. Vern frequently pushes Joe to abandon his strict principles for financial gain in the corporate sector.

Wacey is a fellow game warden who operates in a neighboring district. A former bull-rider, he possesses a roguish cowboy charm and actively plans to run for the position of county sheriff. He is ambitious and enjoys the perks of a luxurious lifestyle through his affairs.

Sheridan is Joe and Marybeth's seven-year-old daughter. She wears glasses and struggles to make friends at school because of her father's unpopular job. She possesses a vivid imagination and feels a deep connection to animals. She closely observes the wildlife around her rural home to cope with her feelings of isolation.

Marybeth is Joe's pregnant wife. She set aside her plans to become a lawyer to focus on her family, managing the household in their isolated government-issued home. She is practical and perceptive. She fiercely supports her husband's character even when faced with financial anxieties and judgment from her visiting mother.

Ote is a local outfitter and veteran who dreams of living like an early pioneer. He openly despises government regulations and frequently hunts out of season to support his struggling business. His initial confrontation with Joe creates a lingering tension in the community before his sudden death sparks a massive police investigation.

Jeannie is Ote's pregnant widow, left to care for her young children in a small and tattered house. She resents her husband's financial decisions and the lack of resources he left behind. She worries about surviving on welfare in Saddlestring.

Clyde is an eccentric disabled man who lives in a junk-filled trailer outside of Saddlestring. Known as a loner and avid photographer, his quiet life places him at the center of the local police investigation when violence erupts in the mountains.

McLanahan is a young and inexperienced police officer working under Sheriff Barnum. He is overly eager to see real action but lacks practical wilderness skills. His heavy camping gear and clumsy approach often slow down outdoor expeditions.

Lucy is Joe and Marybeth's three-year-old daughter. She mimics her older sister's behavior and enjoys playing pretend games around their rural property.

Barnum has been the head of the Twelve Sleep County police force for 24 years. He is protective of his jurisdiction and frequently excludes Joe from wilderness-related investigations. He is concerned about his upcoming reelection campaign.

Missy is Marybeth's mother, visiting from Arizona where she lives with a wealthy boyfriend. She frequently expresses dissatisfaction with her daughter's standard of living and casts judgment on Joe's career choices.

April is Ote and Jeannie's five-year-old daughter. She lives in poverty with her family following her father's sudden death.

Kyle is a traditionalist outfitter and close friend of Ote Keeley. He frequently participates in hunting trips that skirt legal boundaries in the Wyoming mountains.

Calvin is an outfitter who shares Ote and Kyle's disdain for modern hunting regulations. He spends much of his time at remote mountain camps away from law enforcement oversight.

Aimee is the wealthy wife of a communications mogul living at the exclusive Eagle Mountain Club. She uses her wealth and status to influence local men.