Butler County student wins Big Gobbler photo contest
Weston Lowery, a student at McKenzie High School in Butler County, received the most online votes to win the 2026 Big Gobbler Photo Contest. (Photo courtesy of the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – A student from Butler County has won the 14th annual Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association Big Gobbler Photo Contest, with two other area youths taking second and third place.
THE ALBBAA says before sunrise on the second day of Alabama’s 2026 wild turkey season, Weston Lowery was already deep in the Butler County woods, locked in on one gobbler and determined not to leave without him. Hours later, that patience turned into a hunt to remember and a photo that captured the attention of turkey hunters across the state.
Lowery is a freshman at McKenzie High School.
“I was chasing him all morning,” Lowery said. “I was out there about 5 in the morning and finally got him about 10:30.”
Lowery scouted nearly 250 acres, combining family land with adjacent leased hunting property. He spotted the mature tom on opening day and returned the next morning determined to seal the deal.
In an instant, Lowery got into position and dropped the gobbler with his Remington 12-gauge shotgun.
The winning photo, submitted by his mother, earned more than 2,200 online votes, more than double the total of the next closest entry.
As this year’s grand prize winner, Lowery takes home an outdoor prize package that includes a $100 gift card, Thermacell mosquito repellent, a gun-cleaning kit and a copy of Black Belt Bounty, a celebrated coffee table book showcasing the rich hunting, fishing and outdoor traditions of Alabama’s Black Belt region. He also receives a Buckmasters prize pack featuring a hat, Buck knife and a one-year subscription to Buckmasters Magazine.
Finishing second was 8-year-old Fischer Blake Evans of Barbour County with a photo celebrating his first turkey harvest, while 8-year-old Manning Adams earned third place with a youth weekend entry from Lowndes County.
8-year-old Fischer Blake Evans, smiling after harvesting his first turkey in Barbour County, finished second in the 2026 Big Gobbler Photo Contest. (Photo courtesy of the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association)
8-year-old Manning Adams, who harvested his turkey during youth weekend in Lowndes County, finished third in the 2026 Big Gobbler Photo Contest. (Photo courtesy of the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association)
The 14th annual Big Gobbler Photo Contest drew dozens of entries and thousands of votes, once again highlighting the passion, tradition and excitement surrounding Alabama’s legendary spring turkey woods.
“We are grateful for everyone who entered this year’s contest and for everyone who cast online votes,” ALBBAA director Pam Swanner said. “It’s true that hunters flock to the Black Belt from all over the country to enjoy our abundant hunting opportunities, and the contest helps our organization fulfill its mission to educate the public about all of the incredible natural resources found in Alabama’s 23-county Black Belt region.”
The Black Belt includes the following 23 counties: Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and Wilcox.
CLICK HERE for more information about Black Belt Adventures.
Click here for more from WAKA.
