A few decades back, when I heard that the Game Commission was going to hire a woman to be the wild turkey biologist for the Commission, I was incredulous.

I was at that point still suffering the darts and insults I received almost daily because I was a woman hunter. So I was delighted that the Game Commission would hire a woman — Mary Jo Casalena — and also a bit jealous because I would have loved to have that position, but I was born too many years prior to that announcement for it to become a reality for me. Mentally, I wished her well and hoped I’d meet her one day.

I did meet her and was surprised to see that she was a petite and pretty lady. We met at the meetings of the Outdoor Writers of Pennsylvania and got to know one another.

So this season just past we got together. She came to hunt with me along with photographer Dan Unrath. It was already season, so I took her to my favorite turkey hunting spot. We sat and called all day and heard and saw nothing. My friend, Joanie, came up to join this group, and despite her expert skills, no bird answered. It was a fun day but a zero result.

Next morning, we were all bustling with enthusiasm as we drove to the Bellwood game lands. It was a long hike, in a likely-looking woodsy area to watch. I was the old one in the group and somewhat deterred by a bad knee so I could not go as far as Mary Jo and Joanie. They could glide through the woods. So I settled against a tree and waited. And saw or heard nothing.

After an endless time, however, the two stars of the show had an exciting encounter. Almost to their setup spot, Mary Jo saw a gobbler — a jake, she thought. And the bird did its usual response to seeing those who are coming to do them harm. It skittered away, and that was that.

The two sneaked around the edges of the field, and Joanie saw two adult gobblers walking, but they were dauntless. Mary Jo and Joanie kept sneaking forward, almost to the chosen spot to sit, when Mary Jo spotted two adult gobblers walking straight toward them, probably to enter the field, but they went out of range and would not respond to calling.

We had a fine time rehashing that adventure all evening. As we drove home, Mary Jo had whatever information she needed in her phone.

We drove home, anticipating a stop at my favorite pizza place, but it also rejected us by being closed. Despite all the bad luck, we had great fun and considered the two-day hunt a success.

Mary Jo moved on to a hunt with another well-known hunter/writer. Oh, well maybe next time?

One thing is certain about turkeys in the late season — one must realize that the best time to see turkeys is when they are in a bunch, making their way to roosting trees. That means you need to be looking for them to be working from about 6 p.m. to twilight.

Turkeys do not start for their roosting trees at 3. Look in your hunting digest to see what the hunting hours are for that day and hunt right up to the last moment.