Winners Announced for the 2025 NWTF Photo Contest

The Grand Prize, titled “Forest Stage,” was awarded to Zack McQueen, for his exceptional entry that captures an Eastern wild turkey strutting in the leaf litter of the forest as the sun peers through the hardwoods. As a part of the Grand Prize, McQueen will receive a $1,000 cash prize, publication in a special multi-spread feature in an issue of Turkey Call magazine, be showcased at the 2026 NWTF Convention and Sport Show Waterin’ Hole and be highlighted in the NWTF’s online winners’ gallery.  

“Being the grand prize winner for the NWTF Photo Contest has been a dream since I picked up a camera five years ago and saw the amazing images on the cover of Turkey Call magazine,” McQueen said. “Every drained battery, every full SD card, every missed opportunity felt like I was working towards something bigger than getting 'The' image to submit to the contest. As I posted my images on social media, I kept getting the same messages: ‘I had no idea turkeys were this beautiful,’ or ‘I always thought of them as an ugly bird.’ So, my goal shifted. I was enjoying giving these birds a personality through videos and images, while giving people a reason to enjoy turkeys. I think photographers are silent conservationists photographing the things we see and giving people a window into a world they don't see, and that creates an interest they hadn't had. So, what does it mean to me to have the Grand Prize winning photo? It means my images are making people happy, interested and curious. It means that Zack five years ago would be so proud of Zack today. I spent a lot of time in snow, rain and the occasional sun last spring just to photograph the wild turkey, and Grand Prize winner or not, I can't wait to do it again this spring.”

Additional winners in each category will also receive a cash prize, be featured in a special photo contest section in Turkey Call magazine and have their work showcased in the NWTF's online winners' gallery.   

View the submissions for the 2025 NWTF Photo Contest here and look for the 2026 contest to open later this fall. 

1st Place: “Clover Plot Smoke” by Zack McQueen 

2nd Place: “Scratching,” by John Mack 

3rd Place: “Simply Gorgeous,” by Darcy Daniels

1st Place: “Showing Off,” by Tom Martineau 

2nd Place: “Putting on a Show,” by Mark Evans 

3rd Place: “Morning Steam,” by Tom Martineau  

1st Place: “Pyrocumulus Sunset,” by Clint Wirick

2nd Place: “Frozen Fog,” by Gary Sayre 

3rd Place: “Fall River,” by Tom Martineau 

1st Place: “The Best Walk,” by Edward Wall 

2nd Place: “Louisiana Saturday Night,” Andrew Parten 

3rd Place: “The Row Back,” by Tom Martineau 

About the National Wild Turkey Federation  

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 25 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. Since 2022, the NWTF has also invested over $2.3 million in critical wild turkey research that, when leveraged with partner contributions, has resulted in more than $22 million to guide the management of the wild turkey and to ensure sustainable populations. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale to deliver healthy forests and wildlife habitats, clean and abundant water, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues to unite a nation through the life-changing power of the outdoors.