I have never shot an animal. I don’t own a firearm or archery equipment. I fish, and I’ve considered deer hunting, but I’ve never cleared the early hurdles: the expense of buying the gear and the time required to hone the necessary skills. It’s a daunting prospect for a beginner, especially one like me, who’s never had anyone to show him the ropes.

Recently, a friend has offered to do just that. He’s a Navy SEAL who has served as a sniper and as a combat medic; that strikes me as a perfect combination of talents for the person willing both to train me and help me survive antler-impalement. Indeed, if I’m hesitating now, it’s because I’m wary of ruining my friend’s hunting experience with my ineptitude. He’s accustomed to working with highly trained special operatives who can move in stealth and communicate paragraphs with a few hand signals. I tend to barrel through the woods with the grace of a rhinoceros and have a 5-year-old’s knack for asking annoying questions at the worst moments.