Deer Expert dies, Charles Alsheimer

[Leon County Slayer]

Some here may have read many of his books or articles and watched and learned a bit from his TV appearances...
Charles Alsheimer passed away this morning. Prayers for his wife. Visiting my mom this week in Pennsylvania and she told me her friends husband passed away suddenly this morning. The name sounded familiar and I realized I had read some of his books including Deer & Deer Hunting Magazine where he was the editor.

He has really contributed to the hunting community over his lifetime.

http://www.charliealsheimer.com/ca/deerhunting.html

[tbgascorer]

Hate to hear that. I've read a lot of his material over the years.

[huntingfanatic]

Hate to hear that. I've read a lot of his material over the years.

Same here. Great photographer as well

[BigThicketBoy]

Man I hate to hear that.
R.I.P. .
Prayers sent up high for the family.

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[Leon County Slayer]

Same here. Great photographer as well

Yeah, he really was. I haven't read his moon phase stuff but the hunting strategies were really good books.

[Drycreek3189]

I just read this on Bowsite.com. Sad to hear. RIP Charlie.....

[lmartin5]

RIP....


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[mdnabors]

Dang. Sharp fella for sure. Lots of good info and photography over the years...

[woodsman]

Wow. Have read and enjoyed much of his work over the years. A major icon for deer, deer behavior and incredible photography, now gone. He was a follower of Christ, so there is peace knowing he is with the Lord.


FROM HIS WEBSITE:


In 1994, the Christian Bowhunters of America, in cooperation with the American Tract Society, published The Ultimate Hunt, a gospel tract in which Charles J. Alsheimer talks about the impact Jesus Christ has had on his life. The tract's contents appear below.

THE ULTIMATE HUNT


It's been quite a journey for a kid who grew up on a potato farm to become one of the top white-tailed deer photographers, writers and hunters in North America. During the last twenty years Charlie Alsheimer's pursuit of the white-tailed deer has taken him across North America. His photos have won numerous state and national photo contests and his articles and photographs have appeared in nearly every major outdoor publication in America, including Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, Sports Afield, and Deer and Deer Hunting. In addition he has written and coauthored five popular books on the white-tailed deer.

Perhaps Charlie's greatest talent is his ability to communicate. As a result, he's in great demand as a seminar speaker and lecturer. His path to the top has been bumpy and full of curves, but today he knows where the road leads. Here's how Charlie tells his story:

Surprised by Life's Turns
I'm amazed when I think of how I grew up and what I'm doing now. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to see if it's all real. Being able to make a living hunting, photographing, and writing about whitetails and nature is a dream come true for me.

My dad was a tremendous athlete and a very macho kind of guy who taught me that I could do whatever I wanted in life if I put my mind to it. So, with his help I channeled all my efforts into sports while growing up. In the process, baseball, basketball and hunting became my gods. Though I was very good at all three, I had no time for anything else. Occasionally my mom tried to get me involved in church, but it really didn't interest me.

After a successful high school athletic career I took my basketball ability to the college hardwood courts, where I became a starter in my first year. In spite of this success I wasn't a very happy person. With my life in neutral I dropped out of college after the first year and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1967. While in the Air Force my life changed. In October of 1969, with a year and a half left in my enlistment, I received orders for Vietnam.

One night two weeks after arriving in Vietnam I came to grips with the reality of life when the Viet Cong attacked the base where I was stationed. GIs scrambled for cover as rockets and mortars landed all around. I never made it to the bunker. In all the chaos I "choked," stayed in my bunk, and prayed. It's the first time in my life I can ever remember praying. Though I wasn't hurt, men died that night. Feeling a need to get closer to God I began going to church in Vietnam and went regularly until I came home in December of 1970.

Challenged by Life's Opportunities
When I returned to the States I was a changed person. Nam had given me a greater appreciation for America and the benefits of living here. The experience had also given me a desire to make something of myself. I went back to college and began dating a school teacher by the name of Carla Todd, a wonderful Christian girl I had dated off and on since high school.

This time around my college experience was different. I was a dean's list student and a member of the varsity basketball team with seemingly everything going for me. In spite of all the successes I was struggling inside. The more I tried to do things on my own the less peace I had in my heart.

But things were changing. From the time I came home from Vietnam I had been going to church with Carla. Between her and those in the church, I was beginning to realize the love of God. Early in 1971 a church member introduced me to **** Snavely, the Executive Director of Family Life Ministries in Bath, New York. After that I regularly used FLM's basketball facility, and **** and I became good friends.

On April 23, 1971, during a workout at FLM, **** asked if I was a Christian. My response was that I was, and he asked me to tell him about it. I couldn't tell him anything! Though I had been going to church I knew little about being a Christian or what "being saved" was all about. I figured that if people went to a church they were automatically Christians. Rather than changing the subject, **** asked if he could talk to me about it. Because I respected him I said yes, and we spent the next two hours in his office discussing Christianity.

**** shared with me Romans 3:10, "There is none righteous, no, not one" and Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." He also explained John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Changed by a Lifetime Decision
I asked many questions and for the first time in my life someone explained to me why Christ came to earth, died on a cross for my sins, and then rose from the grave. And he told me how I could be saved by accepting Christ as my Savior. I knew then that the emptiness I had was because I didn't know Christ. Before leaving I knelt in ****'s office and prayed, admitting I was a sinner, asking Christ to forgive me of my sins, and asking Him to come into my life.

When I got up I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders. I had been hunting for peace for years and the hunt was over! My goal ever since has been to make Christ the center of my life.

In 1972 Carla and I were married, and after graduating from college I took a sales and marketing position with a large corporation. Though I loved the job, God had a different plan for my life. During this time I taught Sunday school classes and became more involved in nature photography and writing. I was not only growing in my relationship with Christ, but my hobby was becoming more than a hobby.

I took the big leap in 1979 and went full time into outdoor communications. Though some questioned my judgment, I knew it was Christ's will. He opened many new doors the first year. In addition to the writing and photography assignments, opportunities to speak mushroomed. I enjoy those opportunities the most because so many people have come to share my trust in Jesus Christ during my speaking engagements.

When I was growing up on the farm I was convinced by the natural things around me that there was a God, but I just didn't know who He was. Now that I know God personally through believing in Jesus Christ, I realize God deserves all the credit for my dreams coming true. Since 1971, Proverbs 3:5 and 6 have been my life verses - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." I've trusted, and He has guided and directed me.

As I reflect on the many good things that have come my way, I'm convinced of this: when you turn your life over to Christ, He can make you a better banker, teacher, truck driver, lawyer, doctor, factory worker, nature photographer, writer, or whatever. But you have to let him take charge of your life. As I found out in 1971, only through Christ will you find peace in your heart, fulfillment in life, and know for sure you are going to heaven.

Copies of The Ultimate Hunt tract may be purchased from the Christian Bowhunters of America. For more information contact Christian Bowhunters of America, 877-912-5724.






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[lovemylegacy]

Read alot of his material. Infinite knowledge of the whitetail and was a fine Christian man

[Leon County Slayer]

Yes, read some condolences on Facebook and he touched a lot of lives and no doubt, led many to receive the free gift of an eternal life in heaven. Sounds like a race well run. My mom worked with his wife, Carla, and said she's quite a woman as well.

[Phillip Fields]

Rip

[lovemylegacy]

I think Deer and Deer Hunting mag was his idea. He was at least a major contributer

[Leon County Slayer]

I think Deer and Deer Hunting mag was his idea. He was at least a major contributer

Not sure. but definitely a major field editor and was with them since the late '70's I believe

[herd90]

Horrible news. Very much respected his thoughts. Prayers to the family for sure.

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