I was able to get my first bird completely by myself this year. I've always had my dad or someone else with me calling and I guess you could say teaching me what to do and when to do it. No gobbles on roost at all and at 7:00 am I hear some hens mouthing back and fourth. So I got my slate call and started talking back and fourth to them and 10-12 hens followed by 8-10 jakes come strolling out and last but not least a single long beard came out at 45 yards I let him get around 30 yards,then let the 870 with 3 inch magblends and rob Roberts choke tube do it's thing . 7:21 had my first bird by myself on the ground! I know it's sorta a long story but I feel good about calling in a bird by myself. 9 1/2 inch beard 1 1/8 spurs and 20 lbs.