Well
CanadaSlammer69prepare youself for a ride.
Photography in very addictive and very frustrating. I will tell you since you brought it up, it is very hard to bea true "photographer" meaning that at least51% of your income comes from the images you shoot. Very few are able to do it. Without getting too in dept, you have to be bettter at business and marketing than you do at photography. Most people that want to be photographers aren't. Thus why there's a lot of hungry photographers. Business wise, I can't really help you that much as I'm a horrible businessman because I have a hard time charging 2K for a print-which is what you have to do.
Your friends are correct, surround yourself w/photographers and sit and watch. Study thier images and listen to their critiques. Some may be harsh, but those are generally the ones that make you better.
www.naturephotographers.net is a great place to sit and watch. Study the images and read all the critiques. Look at Brad Hill, Mark Admus and Dan Walters, I think they are all on that site if I remember correctly. If you're interested in shooting deer, Fred Thompson is on there (not the actor/senator) and he just got done w/a series on whitetails.
www.photo.net is another good site to read their forums. Their forums will help you learn a camera inside and out. Just like w/huntin' you have to know your equipment. Tom Mangelsen is said to frequent that site under an alias name. He very well might be the best nature photographer alive now.
Hope this helps.