現今仍有許多美國人必須仰賴著土地以自給自足，藉由捕獵及誘捕動物以供應家中食物來源的人，稱之為「山地硬漢」。他們生存的關鍵取決於能否完善地運用數百年所傳承下來的技術。本節目將介紹從阿帕拉阡古陸、落磯山脈到阿拉斯加的多元種族及一窺他們是如何在有限的時間內，取得足夠的食物和金錢以度過一年中最寒冷的月分。
居住在北卡羅來納州「烏龜灣保護區」深山內的尤斯特斯康維，為了要尋找更真實的生活方式，他在20年前搬於此地。在過去幾年，他在他所建的小屋中，以狩獵、釣魚和畜養動物維生。
湯姆奧爾與他的妻子一同生活在蒙大拿州的亞克河旁，此處距離最近的城鎮有100英里遠，而他已經有十年沒回去那了。
誘捕者約翰是靠貿易來為冬季做準備，所以他必須要賺足金額已買足他所需的補給品。馬蒂梅洛托和他的多明尼加太太和女兒諾雅生活在阿拉斯加的小鎮兩河。每個月他都會開著他的雙翼飛機深入叢林尋找他賴以維生的狼獾和山貓皮。而在黑河上他得獵捕馴鹿和野鹿以在野外生存。他們就是美國最道地的「山地硬漢」。
There are men in America who must still make their living off the land; hunting and trapping to provide for their families. They are Mountain Men. Their very survival is predicated on utilizing ancient skills perfected over hundreds of years. This series features a variety of men from Appalachia to the Rocky Mountains to Alaska and follows them as they race against winter to obtain the sustenance and money needed to make it through the coldest months of the year. Eustace Conway lives deep in the mountains of North Carolina on the "Turtle Bay Reserve." He moved here two decades ago in search of a more "truthful" existence. In the years since, he's built a home, and survived by hunting, fishing and raising animals. Tom Orr lives with his wife on the Yaak River in Montana. He is 100 miles from the nearest town, a place he hasn't ventured to in 10 years. John is a trapper by trade and to prepare for winter, he must earn enough money to obtain the supplies he needs. Marty Meierotto, his wife Dominique and their daughter Noah live in the small Alaskan town of Two Rivers. Every month, Marty pilots his bi-plane, traveling into the bush in search of the wolverine and lynx pelts he needs to make a living. While he's on the Black River, he must hunt moose and caribou to survive in the wilderness. Together, they represent America's true Mountain Men.
