Start of season not good guide for followers of game (5)
I believe the answer is:
spoor
'guide for followers of game' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'start of season not good' is the wordplay.
'start of' suggests taking the first letters.
'not good' becomes 'poor' (I've seen this in another clue).
The first letter of 'season' is 's'.
's'+'poor'='SPOOR'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for spoor that I've seen before include "Animal's track or scent" , "Animal track or scent" , "Animal track, trail" , "Trace" , "Animal's track/scent" .)