2009.04.20
Mya Gallo is doing her part on youth gobbler day
Kill numbers have been pretty modest on Virginia's youth spring gobbler day, but no one can blame Mya Gallo.
The bubbly 9-year-old -- I've met her and I assure you "bubbly" is appropriate -- made it two springs in a row when she got this awesome gobbler on April 4 on the family's property in Giles County. The bird had a 10-inch beard and 1.25-inch spurs.
Mya was hunting with her younger brother, Cologero, and was under the guidance of her dad, Chuck, whose mother Janet Gallo was in town visiting and was eager to pose with her excited grandkids.
Due to a busy schedule with other things, the closest I've come to hunting this season is hearing reports from other hunters. I've gotten a few reports of good hunting the past few days, but it seems a little slower than normal. But I'm always cautious about assuming what I'm hearing or experiencing represents an actual trend.
I've contacted the DGIF's head turkey guru, Gary Norman, and requested updated telecheck numbers from the DGIF. I am eager to see how the numbers compare to last season's. Norman said he took vacation Thursday and Friday, hunting public land, and heard only one gobbler.
If you've got a current report or a hero shot from this spring, send it in.
Congratulations Mya on your beautiful gobbler !!!
It is great to see all the kids that are bagging these handsome turkeys this year!
I've been out twice and haven't heard or seen a turkey yet while hunting. However I am having all kinds of Gobbler action on my recent fishing trips!!!! Yesetrday morning I went out on Smith Mtn. lake for a few hours to see if I could catch a bass or two. There were four different turkeys gobbling like crazy on the ridges adjacent to the cove I was in. I had my mouth call with me so I gave the birds a few yelps and some aggressive cutting just to see how they would react. Three of the birds would answer but they would not move from thier location. The fourth bird came looking though and actually got within 20 yards of the lakeshore!!! I just stood there in my boat and watched him, I guess he knew I was holding a fishing rod and not a gun! Anyway I snapped a couple photos as he wandered away.
It was a great morning and I thought to myself how blessed we are to be in an area so beautiful and rich with nature's bounty. I contemplated how fortunate I was to be there watching the sun rise over the lake, hearing majestic wild gobblers calling thier mates and feeling the tug of a spunky bass on my line........... all in the first hour of the day.
Comment by Ralph Barton — April 20, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
Cologero and Mya smiles say's it all!!
Congratulations chuck you should be a very proud man.
-- I agree, Static Lines. Those expressions are great! mt
Comment by Static Lines — April 20, 2009 @ 3:50 pm
Good job Mya, thats one nice Gobbler!
Comment by Todd Hostetter — April 20, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
Congratulations Mya! You are now hooked!
Comment by Jim Basham — April 23, 2009 @ 4:43 pm