Deer stalking question.

[Richie10 345]

Hi,

I was looking at East Anglian muntjac stalking, interested in what I might like to do.

 

However I look on the East anglian stalking site and they will only let you go stalking if you have your DSC 1.

 

OK so I have a look at the DSC qualification and they say, you can bring along your own gun or borrow one....????

 

So do you need a qualification to own a rifle and shoot deer, or if it is on your own land you don't need one and shoot what you like?

 

Also can you go deer stalking with out any previous experience/qualifications?

 

Sorry for the confusing post.

 

Thanks

 

Rich.

[Dan Newcombe 58]

Its a bit of a sore point.

 

The DSC was brought in as a voluntary thing to show you are competant but it is slowly moving into the compulsory sphere with more and more places demanding that you have it.

 

On the plus side it does prove that you have a very basic level of understanding in rifle safety, marksmanship and deer identification.

 

However it will never replace time in the field. I havent done mine yet but i will be doing it (and then the level 2) and i would advise that you do as well. It might not be right but it makes everything easier.

 

Regarding the rifle, you can use an estate rifle when stalking in the company of the owner (of the rifle) and for the shooting test on the course you can use their 'estate' rifle.

 

The silly thing is that if you did the test now, you would be on paper a safer rifleman than people who have been doing it years.

[Richie10 345]

Looking at it, it seems that it can become very expensive, with the course and the accomodation.

 

I will look into doing it, probably next year but was hoping to try it out before.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Cheers.

[wireviz 8]

[There are still plenty of places were you do not need a dsc1 and you can get your own ground and shoot what you want when you want but i would advise getting insurance.

[Deker 3,491]

[There are still plenty of places were you do not need a dsc1 and you can get your own ground and shoot what you want when you want but i would advise getting insurance.

 

 

In principle you are correct in part, but as above, it seems the DSC is "almost" a necessity in some areas!

 

Rubbish really, as a few days lecture and shoots in no substitute for years of experience.

 

I have NO official deer qualifications but I am an accepted and hopefully respected deer mentor for Thames Valley and the Met Police.

 

How daft is it that the Police are happy for me to "train & supervise" deer stalkers but certain organisations will not allow me to shoot on their land because I have no paper qualification!

 

And if/when you get your own land you cannot shoot what you want unless it is listed on your FAC, and you will find it hard to get deer unless you have a DSC...(or Mentor)...the circle goes round and round...

[john robbo 30]

[There are still plenty of places were you do not need a dsc1 and you can get your own ground and shoot what you want when you want but i would advise getting insurance.

 

 

In principle you are correct in part, but as above, it seems the DSC is "almost" a necessity in some areas!

 

Rubbish really, as a few days lecture and shoots in no substitute for years of experience.

 

I have NO official deer qualifications but I am an accepted and hopefully respected deer mentor for Thames Valley and the Met Police.

 

How daft is it that the Police are happy for me to "train & supervise" deer stalkers but certain organisations will not allow me to shoot on their land because I have no paper qualification!

 

And if/when you get your own land you cannot shoot what you want unless it is listed on your FAC, and you will find it hard to get deer unless you have a DSC...(or Mentor)...the circle goes round and round...

 

 

Deker I niether want to offend you or draw you into an argument but don'nt you think if you are in the position you are, then you should really have some form of qualification as well as experience.??

As in all walks of life it is paperwork that is acceptable now.

An example (not related but you can draw your own conclusions).

I heard on a grouse moor this year a loader was passing a loaded gun to the shooter(double gunning). the gun slipped and there was an "inccident"

Both men had licenses and insurance.

The first thing the insurance company asked was "has the loader had any training as he was employed by the estate".He had'nt just 20 odd years of doing the job.

They would'nt pay out.

Ngo immediatly ran a night class to train the lads and a certificate was issued. They are now trained and insured..

As a mentor with no qualifiction where do you stand in the event of an "inccident"

regards john.

[HUnter_zero 58]

qualification as well as experience.??

As in all walks of life it is paperwork that is acceptable now.

 

Never have more truer words been typed!

 

Almost every site I visit require evidence of qualifications, the police, MOD, Blue chip companies, government agencies all require paper work before they will let us carry out pest control. Next week I'm on a two day H&S course, brain numbing but necessary.

Britain is crippled by this "blame culture" and as you point out, when the numbers are crunched 'they' want to see "qualifications and training records", seconded then by formal risk assessments & method statements, quickly followed by insurance which incidentally is invalid should any of the former be out of place or missing!

 

John