Rodney Locust is finally twelve, the age his dad says he must be to attend the annual deer hunt on his family's allotment in the hills of eastern Oklahoma. But there's a lot of work to do before Rodney can grab his rifle and step foot in the woods, starting with hunter safety. Rodney is anxious to start hunting and not excited about all the prepwork. But when he finally gets his chance, Rodney discovers the lessons he's learned may have been the key to a successful first hunt.