Just realize in the beginning it's a long hunting curve. You might get lucky right away or it may take you a year or so to drop your first deer. But you will see, the first encounter you get your heart will be racing and you'll be hooked for life. It's a great addictive sport, just gotta get some miles under those boots. You have some great guys here but everyone likes to bust balls. Keep thick skin on this site and don't let some of these guys get to you, but for the most part people here are great.
Few quick thoughts to throw your way.
Ground blinds work but tree stands I believe are always better, in due time you'll get used to them, just follow any safety precautions. Safety harnesses are a must to be safe.
State land is great, just need to find the right places. Gets hunted heavy but there are spots off the beaten path that will be untouched. Your job is to find them (with time). Keep in mind mature deer will pattern hunters as we also try to pattern deer. I think deer have it easier! Things like parking in the same spot, over hunting a stand, walking through a bedding area to get to your stand, etc. So keep this in mind when you find other spots people are huntin.
When you find a spot on state land just remember it's not yours, another hunter may hunt there, sucks but everyone has the same rights.
State land items left on state land may go missing, tree stands trail cams ground blinds etc. Antis will take them, but I think it's mostly scum bag hunters, who want the property to themselves and are trying to "claim it" or just want it for themselves.
Practice with your equipment all through the year, even rain gear. This is especially true when bow hunting. You don't want to get out of shape or out of form when the moment of truth does come.
In the beginning until you learn more, I always just looked for active deer sign. Droppings, tracks, scrapes, rubs, browse you can see being eaten. Set up accordingly. Deer patterns always change, if you notice this week deer are hitting a small patch of acorns hard, set up that oak flat.
Practice scent control. Do more research on this on
ways to try to be scent free. You will never be scent free so you need to hunt the wind. That means keep the wind in your face so that the wind isn't blowing your scent to the deer, but actually away from the deer.
Most importantly, have fun, there's lots to learn and a lot of people to learn from. Every one of us learns new stuff every year. Just keep at it and you'll get a lifetime of enjoyment.
