While hunting a fox who caused their truck to swerve and crash, three men make an astonishing find in the wintry Minnesota woods. Dimwitted Jacob, his belligerent buddy Lou and Jacob's younger brother and reluctant partner-in-crime Hank discover a crashed airplane covered in snow. Inside are the dead pilot and four million dollars in cash. Hank wants to alert the authorities, the others want to keep it. Hank yields on one condition: that he keep the money until the plane is discovered in the spring thaw. If no one comes after the money, the three will divide the cash.

Despite swearing the others to secrecy, Hank spills all to his wife Sarah. Hank obeys her and returns some of the money to the plane to avert any suspicion. On lookout duty, Jacob panics and hits a farmer named Dwight who's hunting a fox. Hank prepares to dispose of the body but Dwight regains consciousness. Hank smothers Dwight and stages the death as a snowmobile accident despite Jacob's protests.

Unemployed Lou threatens to tell the sheriff the truth about Hank killing Dwight unless he gets his share of the money now. Sarah tells Hank to frame Lou for Dwight's death. Jacob reluctantly agrees to double-cross his friend and gets Lou to fake a confession to Dwight's murder. Hank reveals he secretly recorded Lou's confession. Lou threatens to kill Hank, so Jacob shoots Lou dead. Hank kills Lou's wife Nancy makes it look like Lou did it.

The sheriff, Carl, believes Hank's and Jacob's cover story. He's got more important things on his mind, like helping visiting FBI agent Baxter. After Jacob stupidly revealed