WIth status, you dont' need your hunter ed course done, but I think you should get it done.. I'm a certified hunter education instructor and I teach the course several times a year.. It's good to do it to get some basic stuff down pat.. The course does not teach you how to hunt at all.. the course teaches you gun safety, hunting safety, some first aid and they teach you how to ideinfity animals properly..Had no idea , I wish I just knew how to hunt lol, I have my status which as far as I know makes a big difference.
I'd do the course if I were you and then find someone to go with who will teach you how to hunt..
FYI, no one taught me to hunt.. I learned how to hunt deer but just going out and trying.. I'd watch and adjust what I was doing from what i saw.. Now I would say I'm near expert for deer. I've taught myself to bear hunt, moose hunt etc by the same way.. Just get out there and try and pay attention to what the animals are doing and you'll be good.. I didn't have anyone to take me hunting.. .I wish I did sometimes and sometimes I am glad I didn't..
If you learn under someone else, you learn what they do.. which isn't always legal.. isn't always the best way to be suffessfull, isn't always safe, might go against your morals etc..
I do have people who want to go hunting with me now.. and to be honest, I choose not to hunt with majoirty of them because we don't hunt the same. For exmaple, in the spring, I hunt bear using bait.. It's legal, safe and I have decided its something I will do.. Another person might disagree and say baiting bears is too easy and unethical..