"Going along" is the best advice I've read on this thread, But:
Before you spend 5 minutes getting ready to tag along:
Odds are your friends are already starting to plan next falls hunts.
Zone options, draw priorities, species options, gear, permission, sheds, maps, working up loads with suitable projectiles for the species you Think you'll be drawn for....are all just a few things that odds are your friends you'll be going with are already considering, or even doing. (unless they're hunting "the back forty"). Come summer you have to go through all your camp gear, as the last thing you want to do on your hunt is fix u/s equipment. Tents need to be aired out/repaired, trailers need wheel bearings repacked, etc, etc.
Understand there's a heck of a lot more involved in a successful hunt than a new pair of boots and an orange vest.
Soon as there's less than 4' of snow up top the sheep hunters will be out spotting, and the trophy guys have been looking for sheds since christmas.
You'll also find staring down the barrel at your first mulie doe is different than a video game.
I'd suggest hunting partrige or ducks with your friends.