James “Jim” Charboneau was an outdoorsman at heart who loved fishing, hunting, camping, floating the river, and barbecuing in the backyard with family by his side.
Jim passed away on March 1, 2026, at his home in Washington surrounded by his loved ones. He died after a long battle with ALS disease. He was 73.
Jim judged the Master National in 2012 and again in 2016. Jim grew up hunting and fishing in the great Northwest and received his first bird dog, an English Setter, as a teenager and quickly became hooked on upland bird hunting and watching good dog work. 15 years and 2 kids later, he had the pleasure of hunting waterfowl and upland behind a fully trained retriever and happily started hunting with one of his own a short time later.
Ten 10 years later in 2000 when someone told him to try his luck running AKC hunt tests. After failing his first test he was hooked and never looked back. Jim trained and handled his own dogs to the Master level and several Master National events.
Jim was married to the love of his life, Pam and had two children and four grandchildren.
The Master National community sends their deepest condolence to his family and friends.