RE: whats your best advice for a beginner
My suggestion is practice related. In my opinion you need to vary your practice. Shooting from level ground at measured distances is a great way to get started. However in the woods things will be different. Especially from a tree stand. Angles, yardages, etc. all change and will give you a headache if you're not prepared for it. Try to mix up your practices with some more realistic shooting situations.