THE FIDGET FACTOR
Speaking of comfort, hunters who spend their workweek chained to desks or who are bothered by chronic back pain often fall victim to the wiggles. They simply can't sit still for long periods of time, and their habitual fidgeting is bound to cost them a bird before the season is over.

I've been there and done that myself, most recently last spring when a hamstring cramp forced me to noisily shift position just as a tom was coming into view.

The rule of thumb for dealing with a gobbler that goes silent is simple but effective -- sit still for as long as you can after the bird vanishes, and then stay put for a few minutes after that.

Although you may not be able to cure the wiggles for good, you can minimize the problem by launching a personal fitness program that involves plenty of walking and stretching and by treating yourself to a new folding stool or seat cushion.

I supplement the seat pad that came attached to my turkey vest with a two-piece cushion that fits in my game pocket. That extra support has kept me still through many marathon calling sessions.

MUFFED SHOTS
What if you take all the precautions discussed above and then waste that effort by shooting high or low when the moment of truth is at hand?

Most blown shots in the spring woods are the result of one of three mistakes: misjudging the distance from muzzle to gobbler, failure to get your cheek down on the gunstock, or neglecting to pattern your shotgun with the loads you carry afield.

The way to become proficient at estimating shot distances is to practice constantly, picking out an object, guessing the range from you to it, and then either pacing it off or stretching a tape to test your accuracy. When hunting, you should pick out a couple of trees, shrubs or other objects that you guess to be at the limits of your effective range and vow not to take a shot beyond those markers.

Many modern hunters use a range finder to determine distances to various landmarks around the decoy.

Failing to tuck your cheek firmly against the stock is akin to not keeping your head down when you swing a golf club. It usually stems from over-eagerness. To cure this ill, silently remind yourself, whether you're shooting the real thing or a paper target, to get your head down and then put the bead or cross hairs on those red wattles.