The novel “Hunting Badger” reunites Jim Chee, sergeant of the Navajo Tribal Police, and retired detective Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn. They were the main characters in a previous book by Tony Hillerman entitled "The First Eagle.”
In “Hunting Badger,” they come together again to solve a the injury of one guard and the death of another at the Ute Casino. The FBI was on the case at the time, but did not solve it.
Now, Chee and Leaphorn are picking up the case again. They have come together at the request of a friend of Leaphorn's named Roy Gershwin. The friend tells Leaphorn he knows who committed the crime and tells him it was men from the Rights Militia. He tells him they robbed the casino for money to fight their anti-government beliefs. Gershwin asks Leaphorn not to tell anyone that he gave him this information as he is afraid of the group.
There is a Ute Indian by the name of George Ironhand hiding in the desert wilderness who is believed to be involved. The Indian tale is that one of Ironhand's ancestors was able to successfully escape by flying after attacking Navajo camps. Chee and Leaphorn interview a history professor and begin to link the legend from the past to the present crime. This is based on a true story and is dedicated to the murdered officer.
Both men have a love interest in the story. Chee has been in love with Janet Peet, but it has not gone too well and he fears it is failing. Leaphorn, a widower, has started a relationship with a professor he met in a previous book
