You can teach yourself but depending on your goals, might be more practical to seek some instruction to quicken the learning curve.
I took on a large interest in bow hunting a few years back and the urging of a friend of mine. I did A LOT of research on compound bows by reading/videos, etc. I ultimately picked three bows that were to my liking. I bought none of them. I conceded to seeking out a professional for proper measurement, poundage, weight, etc. Cost me nothing but time.
From there I spent a good bit of time learning the bow myself by shooting and adjusting. Hindsight being 20/20, I wish I would have sought some instruction as I could've avoided wasting money/time on certain things with some guidance (setup, accessories, etc.).
Truth be told, I think there exists a lot of people willing to show a newcomer (who wants to learn) the ropes. I would strongly suggest this if your archery interests extends into actual hunting.