what is a dust bowl

Looks like it was dusting!

Usually the nests will be in a more Closed up area, not right out in the open timber like that. They want to protect the eggs and hide the nest from predators like foxes and yotes and such....I'm going to guess dust bowl.
BigBuck95

They dust to keep their feathers clean. It's like a dry bath. They will have several scratched out spots in dry loose dirt, particularly sandy soil if available, to take their dry bath. These spots are dusting bowls.

If there is turkey tracks around it,Its def where a turkey is dusting!!
No ground cover for a hen to lay its eggs!
Ive Mainly seen nests in thick areas!
Ive also seen them in open areas,BUT In the open areas there was at least be sum ground cover!Meaning at least tall enough to hide eggs till u almost step on them!!
I have sum pics of a couple i took late last spring.I will post them then.

without a doubt a dust bowl.

Here is a nest I killed a nice tom next too.
The Toms love chasing the hens off the nest to try to get them to breed again even if they have to smash there eggs.