Turkey Nest

[pickardjw]

Walking a forest road yesterday and saw a hen jump up from laying down and scurry into the bushes. Only about 30' off the road so we snapped a quick picture. Looks like a nest, correct? Was surprised to see it in such an open area.

Does this tell us what I think it does about the current state of the breeding cycle? Just one data point, but I presume it indicates that hens have been bred, haven't laid eggs yet but are prepping nests and starting to sit on them...

What's your hunting strategy given this info?

[BLH69]

More than likely a dusting pot.

[pickardjw]

Hmm, it was down in a wetland area but I guess that could be it.

[Karl Blanchard]

I'd agree it's unlikely a nest.

[Russ McDonald]

That is a dusting bowl for sure.  They don't use water to wash off they dust themselves.  Good place to setup

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[Tree Killer]

I've found the dusting bowls in old rotten logs at times.  Helps keep the mites off them. 

[pickardjw]

I had forgotten that they do that. Little dinosaur chinchillas.

[emac]

Even if it was a nest and some hens are bred, the Tom's are still looking for their next rodeo.  The more hens that get knocked up the easier it can be to get that lonely Tom in.

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[h2ofowlr]

Not a nest as mentioned.  They will dust themselves.  This looks like such said spot.

[hunter399]

All animals go crazy durring breeding season.
Including humans.
Could be a nest ,maybe ,maybe not 
Just getting a head start.
Birds could be making nests,but that doesn't mean it's an active nest .

[pickardjw]

Anyone ever come across a nest? I could google it but that's not as interesting...

Found some broken eggs a few years back that we thought might be turkey eggs on top of a hill near a popular roost spot. Never seen a nest though I guess.

[Karl Blanchard]

Anyone ever come across a nest? I could google it but that's not as interesting...

Found some broken eggs a few years back that we thought might be turkey eggs on top of a hill near a popular roost spot. Never seen a nest though I guess.

all the nests I've come across have been in tall grasses or dense vegetation. Even when I bump the hen I have a hard time pinpointing them. They blend in well.

[Mfowl]

I've found turkey, pheasant, quail, grouse (pic) chukar, duck and goose nests. All randomly while out and about. The grouse nest in the pic was during the Mountain Challenge at Stevens Pass.

[cjjcb]

Last spring while turkey hunting in Kentucky I came across a nest… I was passing through some waist high, really thick brambles. Less than 10 feet away was a hen, wings spread, flattened out on the ground. It caught me off guard and I stopped and looked at her for about 15 seconds wondering what the hell she was doing before she jumped, leaving about a dozen eggs behind…
Only time I’ve ever seen a nest…
She didn’t go far and was probably back on it within the hour…
Pretty cool to see…