Dust Bowls

[NappinUnderTrees]

Its my understanding that turkeys use dust bowls kinda like a bath, do both Hens and Toms/jakes use them? and are they primarily used near dawn dusk or about noon?

I'm still trying to get a bead on my first gobbler, I have seen 5 - 6 Hens but no males

[lonnie sneed jr.]

All turkeys will dust. I have seen them dust all differant times of the day. Some in plowed fieds, logging roads, just about anywere there is dirt. Most of the dusting I have seen is in a gas line were I hunt. There is alot of grass in it but is has big dirt spots in it.

[jakebird]

From what i've seen over the years, dusting is primarily a midday and afternoon habit, though i suppose they could do it at any time of day.

[NYGobblergetter]

I have seen them do it all times of the day. I actually saw a hen last year do it first things in the morning. It had sprinkled the night before and I think she was trying to dry out her feathers by rolling around in the dust in the morning.

[hoyt]

Here's video of a gobbler I got before the season. Looks like one bowl is to wash and one to rinse.

[NappinUnderTrees]

Thanks for the replies all, I will be back out to my 60 acres of WMA tomorrow. I found the dust bowls on my last outing 3-4 in the back of a former Dove field and another on the edge of some trees coming in. My thought is too get behind some brush at the back of the dove field since they kinda skirt it going from the roosts to a gully with a creek. Once they get to the gully I loose them it seems.

Have yet to see a Male Turk out there but so many females makes me think there is one somewhere. Would be nice if they were talking in the morning but I guess we can't have it all. I have heard that birds are not as vocal on WMA lands sometimes because of pressure anyone confirm this?

And Hoyt, that is an awesome Vid thanks for sharing it with me

[HunterMan]

All dust and at all times...but I see most mid day

[Dan Mallia]

We've been doing brush removal and piling/burning the cuttings. Went by a pile and noticed a large depression. Wondered what the heck it was until I saw a hen dive into it, cover herself with ash from belly to back, jump out, shake off and head on her way. 

[NappinUnderTrees]

Found a couple more Dust Bowls late yesterday, I believe they are about 120 yards from a roost or two on the very edge of an old Dove Field. I'm going to go in early and set up between the Roosts, dustbowls and a route they take to a creek in a hollow... should be an interesting morning. If there are any Males left on this small WMA I think I should find them.

[Skeeter41]

Good luck.  I watched a hen dust herself right after flydown the other day.

[Roost Wrecker]

Good luck. I found a dust bowl last year in my backyard. Checked it this year and its back. I guess she is nesting somewhere around here. I put my trail cam on it and got plenty of pics. I took my camera down about a week ago. Yesterday when i pulled in my driveway i seen 4 toms standing down there at 11:30 by the dust bowl.