I also did not come from a hunting background, but I've had an incredible 15-year adventure in learning the hunt.
I absolutely agree with Bob33 that big game hunting will try your patience, and you will learn several recipes for tag soup! I'd recommend a few books to help you "climb the learning curve":
-"Hunting Black-tailed Deer: An Oregon Perspective" by Louis G. Terkla (the advice is good for Wash., too!)
-"Blacktail Trophy Tactics" by Boyd Iverson (great information, even if you just want a 'shooter' buck)
-Anything by Dwight Schuh (he writes for the archery crowd, but a lot can be applied to rifle hunting)
-and there are many more.
Of course, no book can substitute for experience, time in the woods, or time on the range!
Good luck. Your location will make you a de facto representative for the hunt, and for hunters.
