The story is centered around a hunting tournament, where the player is one of the participants. Each level features three hunts with a variety of animals and challenges, as well as bonus challenges. A hunt may include shooting a red deer, but the bonus may be to shoot it in the heart. Each stage features ample chatter among the participants in the tournament, which is where the bulk of the story is told. Hunts take place in areas all over the world, including Montana and Nigeria, and there are three levels pertaining to each location.
The gameplay focuses on hunting and shooting a variety of animals. Players must use their skills and strategy to successfully complete each hunt. The Cabela's Big Game Hunter 2012 game features various modes, including Story Mode and Arcade/Reflex/Target galleries, which offer different challenges and objectives.