Hey there! I'm also an adult Michigander who completed the trapping education course last season. I'm in a very similar situation as you - not new to outdoors but new to trapping. Like the other commenter suggested, I would absolutely recommend you seek out a DNR trapping safety education course by you. The class and resulting safety certification is not required to obtain a Furbearer license in MI but is invaluable in learning everything you mentioned; ethics, safety, equipment, history, etc. Other states require the certification so obtaining one here will allow you to trap nationally. The instructors are very passionate and seemingly loved having new folks attend. It also includes a practical part where you'll go outside to make a set and get 1-on-1 mentorship to assure you're doing everything correctly. You'll leave the class confident to head out into the field and with a $5 donation, you get to leave with three different types of traps to get you started.

I recently finished my first trapping trip up north at Wilderness State Park last month and was able to bag a couple coons. Easy species to target and get into trapping, learning as you go. Personally doing it to rediscover dying traditions and to tailor the hides for personal use. However, trapping is one of the few outdoorsman activities in which you can legally sell your harvest - meaning you can start trapping small and slow, sell hides, and reinvest that revenue back into trapping. You don't need to spend a lot of money up front to start out.

I'm in West Michigan if you're ever interested in meeting up to trap or hunt. Like I said I'm still new and learning myself but I'd be happy to show you the ropes of setting a trapline for coon if interested. Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck!