Buy a dog. Get access to some grown up fields or open woods. A clear-cut will do. Get some training birds and let your new dog find them. Dog needs to know what his name is and to come when you call him. The rest is hard wired into his brain.
Start now and keep going through the winter. You will have a bird dog next fall. You'll feel an obligation to the dog to go out every weekend you can and you will have the best next ten years of your life. Get another pup at five years and repeat for the rest of your life.
You will thank me for this advice one day!...Geo
