Having a mentor was very useful for me. Choosing a mentor is tricky. I was fortune to have one with a wall full of trophy bucks. I know others who will tell you how good they are at hunting along with telling tails of the ones that got away... The best advice that was given to me is that you can't bag a big buck sitting on the couch. Next best advice was that there is no substitute for experience. I think that I honed my skills by hunting with only a bow for a decade before taking up gun hunting. All 5 of my 2020 deer were taken at less than 25 yards (Only the buck was with a gun). Saw deer today (opening of muzzleloader), but none were sure shots. No need to rush my final doe of the season.