In this cruelly realistic movie, starring Gene Hackman, Oliver Reed and Candice Bergen, wealthy cattle rancher, Brandt Ruger (Hackman) treats his wife sadistically. He leaves for a hunting party with a number of his wealthy friends.
As he's on the train with his friends, he gives each one a present of a new hunting rifle that has a telescope attached. It will allow the hunter to take down targets of over 800 yards. This is an unheard figure.
Outlaw, Frank Calder (Reed) and his gang kidnap Melissa (Bergen) as she is helping at the school yard. They think she's the school teacher and Calder wants to learn how to read.
When Ruger hears that his wife has been kidnapped, he is almost joyous. Now he and his friends can go on the hunting party against humans.
They track Calder's men down and begin to shoot them at long range.
In the meanwhile, Calder's men find out who Melissa is and there is conflict there as well as the growing relationship between Melissa and a man who has been kind to her, Calder.
There is an abundance of action and cruelty in this movie also scenes of nudity and approaching sadistic treatment.