Colorado rancher Dan Tucker defends his livestock against a mutant wild dog attack in a kill or be killed battle. When he takes the head of the animal in to be tested for rabies, he discovers he has the head of a man instead. Now he is forced to cover up a self-defense killing, because no one would believe he killed a wild dog when he has a human head. A werewolf by contamination, Dan finds himself quickly losing control. With all his senses heightened, including his passion for the wild, he finds a new love interest and has a chance at the life he wants. But that seems impossible with the bodies piling up and his former best friend, a county sheriff's deputy, determined to prove him guilty of murder.