GCM Staff Report
Turkey hunters across Alabama have a chance to show off their skills and scenic success as the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association (ALBBAA) kicks off its 13th annual Big Gobbler Photo Contest.
The popular spring competition invites hunters to submit photos of gobblers harvested during the 2025 Alabama spring turkey season. According to a news release, the contest is open only to turkeys taken within the state’s 23-county Black Belt region and aims to spotlight the area’s natural beauty and rich hunting heritage.
“The Eastern wild turkey is ‘king of spring’ in Alabama’s Black Belt and that’s why hunters flock here every spring from across the nation,” said Pam Swanner, director of ALBBAA, in the release. “We want to see photos showing the accomplishments of these hunts, and we want people to also enjoy the Black Belt’s stunning natural scenery, as well as the local food, history and entertainment.”
Entries must be submitted through ALBBAA’s website at www.alabamablackbeltadventures.org/news-more/shoot-the-black-belt/big-gobbler-photo-contest. Photos must include information about the county where the gobbler was harvested, along with identification of everyone pictured. Each participant may enter only once, and all turkeys must be harvested legally during the 2025 spring season.
The winner will be determined by online voting, which is open now and ends May 15. Visitors may vote once per day, per email address, per IP address. Voting is open through the end of turkey season, giving participants the chance to include late-season photos. The winner will receive a prize package valued at $275 that includes an Otis Elite Gun Care Kit, a Dead Ringer shotgun sight, a Knight & Hale Owl Call and a Willow Sage slate turkey call.
Photos from the past two contest winners are not eligible. All photos are subject to approval, and disqualifications may occur if entries depict unethical or disrespectful content, violate Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) regulations or if there are voting irregularities.
In Alabama, the 2025 turkey season runs through May 8, with hunters limited to one gobbler per day. Spring season decoys are allowed only on specified dates, and mechanical decoys are prohibited. All harvested gobblers must be reported to ADCNR within 48 hours. Complete rules and regulations are available at www.outdooralabama.com/seasons-and-bag-limits/turkey-season.
“We always love seeing photos entered every year in the Big Gobbler Photo Contest,” Swanner said. “Each photo is a testament to the phenomenal turkey hunting available here in the Black Belt. I personally love photos showing young hunters bagging their first gobbler or families hunting together. Those are memories that last a lifetime.”
Hunters must follow all game laws and purchase a valid license before heading out. Licenses can be obtained online at www.outdooralabama.com.
The Black Belt region includes Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and Wilcox counties.
The Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association promotes outdoor recreation and tourism throughout the region while supporting its ecological and economic sustainability. More information is available at www.alabamablackbeltadventures.org.
