Looking to get into hunting here in Georgia - what do I actually need to start?

Been living in Georgia for a few years now, mostly in the Atlanta area. Always wanted to get into hunting - seems like a good way to spend time outdoors and actually connect with where food comes from.

But honestly? I'm a little lost on where to even begin.

I've heard about hunting licenses obviously, but then people mention "certificates" and I get confused. Some friends say you need to take a course first, others say you can just buy a license online and go. Not sure what's actually required.

Where do people even hunt if you don't own land? Public land? Leases?

How do you find people to go with when you're new and don't have hunting friends?

I came across something called a Hunter Certificate while looking into requirements. Seems like you might need one before you can get a license here? If anyone's done the course, is it useful or just a formality?

For the hunters in this sub - how did you get started?