Something ain't quite right here...Two full yrs hunting with you and your buddies, should certainly be enough time for him to know the hunting styles that you (all) use. I think the problem is directly related to the fact that he is worried about getting lost. Reading a compass doesn't require a Harvard PhD, and why he hasn't done this to this point is a mystery. I would set the record srtaight and get to the root of his fears. I would talk with him and tell him (for his own good) that you will definitely be hunting alone this year. He cannot and should not be following you thru the woods. Make him feel that he should be hunting on his own and that with a little guidance from you, he can begin to be more independent. Make hin understand that there is no compromise here and that others have gone thru the same thing that he is experiencing now. Now a far as his shooting skills are concerned........