Mason McLaughlin and his grandfather, Wallace Walker, noticed a group of turkeys and chickens heading into a field before disappearing into the nearby woods.

They were hunting on their family property in Roundsboro, Roundes County, and—surprisingly—it was the same group of turkeys they had spied the night before.

“I felt so defeated when the gobblers went back into the trees,” Mason recalled. “I was so upset that I actually started crying.”

At just 11 years old, and having just finished sixth grade at Demopolis Middle School, McLaughlin was out with his grandfather, hoping to bag his first turkey.

Despite the chilly, wet weather, they persevered and managed to coax a gobbler back into the field, bringing it within range of Mason’s .410 shotgun.

“I kept telling myself, ‘If I mess this up, I’m going to jump off the bridge,'” Mason shared, chuckling. “Luckily, I didn’t miss the shot.”

This hunt marked an important milestone for McLaughlin, as he successfully caught his very first gobbler. The moment was captured in a photograph that went on to win the 13th Annual Big Gobbler Photography Contest.

As the winner, Mason received an impressive prize package that included the Otis Elite Gun Care Kit, a Dead Ringer Shotgun Sight, and a Knight & Hale Owl Call, totaling $275 in value.

Walker expressed how winning the contest made their hunt together even more memorable.

“The joy he felt was just unreal. To see that excitement in him while we were out there was something special,” Walker mentioned. “He was so patient and let everything unfold as it should.”

Pam Swanner, director of the Alabama Black Belt Adventure Association (ALBBAA), noted that this particular hunt created lasting family memories, which was the essence of the Big Gobbler Photography Contest.

“It’s heartwarming to know this experience will be something Mason and Wallace treasure for years to come,” Swanner stated. “Our contest highlights young hunters who manage to catch their first gobbler, and this year’s entries were particularly impressive.”

The 2025 Big Gobbler Photography Contest kicked off in March and ran through Alabama’s wild turkey season. Many participants submitted their photos online, and the winners were decided through voting that concluded on May 15th.

“The Alabama Black Belt provides outstanding opportunities for hunting and fishing,” Swanner observed.

This region covers 23 counties, including Barber, Butler, Dallas, and Montgomery, among others.