The most important thing we did is to link up with the AKC, and I think anyone posting here who doesn't lead you in that direction is doing you a great disservice as a hunting dog owner. My suggestions are meant to be just that - suggestions.
1) You should immediately enroll your puppy in local AKC- certified obedience classes.
2) An important phase of early training for you (the handler) is to know HOW-TO train your dog correctly.
3) You'll want to become a sponge when meeting professional handlers and trainers.
4) By joining the AKC, attending their classes and events, and through joining dog and hunt clubs in your area you'll find many resources. And by meeting others, and attending events that are supported by the American Kennel Club (AKC) your puppy gets socialized, is exposed to all types of people and meets dogs of all ages.
5) Other benefits by joining a sporting dog and/or hunt clubs, and attending events are that your puppy will be in an atomosphere where guns are being fired, people are yelling, whistles are being blown, birds are flying, horses and trailers are present, large trucks drive by, and the noise levels are elevated. I think that's important when your home atomosphere may not have these things easily accessible.
6) By the puppy being exposed to external factors you'll learn how to handle its temperment. Please remember that no two dogs temperments are exactly the same. That's an imporatnt fact that no one mentioned until now. And a puppy or dog with a BAD temperment that's owned by an inexperienced handler can be an enormous liability.
I'm from a family of outdoorsmen and women. We hunt, fish, camp and travel with our dogs. We're kennel owners, breeders, and handlers of AKC Champion German Shorthaired Pointers. Two bitches were show champions, and two males were field trial champions, but all were started in the AKC clubs I mentioned. One puppy got a start in an obedience class with our daughter, then went on to agility. Our daughter started in AKC confirmation classes. In junior handling classes offered by the AKC she learned how to fire a blank pistol, teach the puppy to fetch and eventually took placements in water trials. Other classes she learned how to show and earned ribbons several times too! Sporting dogs can bring family outings new meaning and pride when combined with these disciplines.
Here are links to help you - and good luck!
Use and Meet Trainers at AKC Field Trials and local Hunting Clubs and ask for their hints and help. Look for clubs in your state: http://www.akc.org/clubs/search/index.cfm
Enroll and attend AKC certified obedience classes NOW:
http://www.akc.org/events/trainingclubs.cfm
Another way to meet AKC criterion is to go to the actual sporting dog events. Some AKC clubs have retrieval 101, water trials, agility, etc. The AKC holds Field Trials for Sporting Dogs and the Specialty Events which earn championship points: http://www.akc.org/events/field_trials/pointing_breeds/index.cfm
This advice was given by a professional, not an expert.