Depending on the area you hunt, you may be early in the season with plenty of time to track down a monster tom, or you may be nearing the end without using any of your turkey tags on a successful hunt. You’re likely attuned to searching for telltale turkey signs: turkey droppings, feathers, tracks, and scratches in the ground. But have you ever hunted turkeys in a dust bowl? Field and Stream explains how to locate these turkey hot spots and how to hunt them. 

“Sandy soil and light, powdery dirt make the best dust bowls. The only way to find them is to watch birds—and scout your property. Wide erosion cuts or dry runoffs in sloping pastures often hold potential.”

According to the National Wild Turkey Federation, wild turkeys dust themselves frequently to get rid of feathers and parasites. When they use the same dusting site often, they create a shallow “dust bowl” that is a great location for hunting.

Photo by: National Wild Turkey Federation