Hunting for manhood. (In Real Life: first-person America).

CAPE CORAL, FLORIDA--Brett's a good boy. But he lives in a confusing and tempting world of sick music, bad morals, poor schools, and rampant drugs. And like many 14-year-olds, he was unfocused, rebellious, and trying to figure out life when I met him through our church.

As a police detective, I know how easily kids can get lost. And I knew Brett's friends were an assortment of teens with criminal records, blue hair, and baggy jeans. So one day last winter I decided that Brett wasn't going to become one of them. I decided to introduce him to something that would get his attention, make him work, and challenge him to discipline himself. I took him bowhunting.

The deal was simple: Do better in school, respect your parents, think more about the future. In return I'd take him into the woods to stalk wild pigs. Brett couldn't wait to get going.

First I set up a bag target and showed Brett the basics of how to aim and shoot an arrow. He was sticking arrows dead center from the outset. We held contests, and he often beat me. He became pretty sure of himself. Then I made him run and do push ups to create the adrenaline dump that often leads to poor shooting during an actual hunt. His overconfidence faded as arrows began bouncing off the ground and sailing clear of the target.

After a few weeks I felt he was ready to try some field scouting. That evening, a big boar slipped into the thicket where we were set up. I was crouched behind Brett as the pig started rooting only 15 yards away. Brett slowly turned his head and all I could see behind his camouflaged face were two huge eyes. His breath was ragged and he seemed to be grinning from ear to ear. When the boar finally figured out we were there, he began to circle us instead of running, once getting within ten feet as he tried to stick his snout into the blind.

Brett was hooked. He doubled his efforts on the practice field. He shot standing, from his knees, in the open, and behind cover. He began reading bowhunting articles, trying to understand the best techniques. His mother called to thank me, saying his grades were coming up. Over and over, I drilled him on the ethics of our sport, on the ...