Seventeen-year-old Danny Pickett, living with his father in the woods on the Haggin Estate, is a born dog-handler. When he first sees Haggin's Irish setter, it's love at first sight for both of them. Haggin sees Danny's talents and lets him keep Red to train him as a hunter. Together the devoted dog and young man face many dangers in the wilderness they call home, but it is the savage killer, a bear called Old Majesty, who becomes the greatest test of their courage.