This tale take place on the frontier of the state of New York and features the middle-aged Leatherstocking (Natty Bumppo), Judge Marmaduke Temple of Templeton, and Elizabeth Temple of Cooperstown. It begins with an argument between the Judge and Leatherstocking over who killed a buck. Many of the changes made to New York's Lake Otsego are described, and questions on the environment, conservation, and use prevail. The plot develops as Leatherstocking and Chingachgook begin to compete with the Temples for the loyalties of a mysterious young visitor, "Oliver Edwards," the young hunter who eventually marries Elizabeth. Chingachgook dies, and Natty vanishes into the sunset

In the sequel to The Pathfinder, Hawkeye is 70 and has returned to his boyhood home at Lake Otsego.

The Pioneers, or The Sources of the Susquehanna; a Descriptive Tale is a historical novel by American writer James Fenimore Cooper. It was the first of five novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales. Published in 1823, the period it covers makes The Pioneers the fourth chronologically in terms of the novels' plots.The story takes place on the rapidly advancing frontier of New York State and features an elderly Leatherstocking (Natty Bumppo), Judge Marmaduke Temple of Templeton (whose life parallels that of the author's father Judge William Cooper), and Elizabeth Temple (based on the author's sister, Hannah Cooper), daughter of the fictional Templeton. The story begins with an argument between the judge and Leatherstocking over who killed a buck. Through their discussion, Cooper reviews many of the changes to New York's Lake Otsego, questions of environmental stewardship, conservation, and use prevail. Leatherstocking and his closest friend, the Mohican Indian Chingachgook, begin to compete with the Temples for the loyalties of a mysterious young visitor, a "young hunter" known as Oliver Edwards. He eventually marries Elizabeth. Chingachgook dies, representing fears of the race of "dying Indians", and Natty vanishes into the sunset.