DSC1 Assessment only today

[Gareth W]

Where do you find the best practice guidelines? BDS also?

 

For Scotland

 

http://www.bestpracticeguides.org.uk/Default.aspx

 

For England & Wales

 

http://www.bds.org.uk/product572.html

 

Just noticed the English set is £10 more also with the Scottish set you get free updates and also available online for free.

 

HTH

 

Gareth

Edited August 13, 2010 by Gareth W

[jay222]

i did the 4 day course with the bds and found it really good and covered a lot of info not in the text book, well worth the extra money imo

[Redgum]

You obviously think you passed Raja, I think you may know alittle more than you suggested in your original post and good luck if you have. I have stuck a tenner toward the flood appeal just for your neck mate but I disagree with your thoughts on the big game handling. I shoot with a Dsc assessor and he reckons alot of experienced deer stalkers fall down on the big game handling and the shooting test, thats just his opinion I suppose but I tend to believe him.

Its fair to say though that its good advice to read the questions carefully especially if your a bit anxious. Without study I would not have known what disease enlarged retropharyngeal and mesenteric nodes would suggest and guys on the course had never heard of zoonosis. You sound very confident in this field Raja, surprised you did no know your ident so well.

Anyway, I don't mean to pick holes in ya mate, just defending the course as I found it very useful, whether its law or not.

As for the DSC2 I was recommended to hold me horses as to speak and get a few more deer under my belt as its a bit more difficult. There are a few chaps who reckon they can get you through the dsc2 in a weekend if the deer are about ( culls usually) and it your wallets big enough but is this what its really all about.

[kent]

You obviously think you passed Raja, I think you may know alittle more than you suggested in your original post and good luck if you have. I have stuck a tenner toward the flood appeal just for your neck mate but I disagree with your thoughts on the big game handling. I shoot with a Dsc assessor and he reckons alot of experienced deer stalkers fall down on the big game handling and the shooting test, thats just his opinion I suppose but I tend to believe him.

Its fair to say though that its good advice to read the questions carefully especially if your a bit anxious. Without study I would not have known what disease enlarged retropharyngeal and mesenteric nodes would suggest and guys on the course had never heard of zoonosis. You sound very confident in this field Raja, surprised you did no know your ident so well.

Anyway, I don't mean to pick holes in ya mate, just defending the course as I found it very useful, whether its law or not.

As for the DSC2 I was recommended to hold me horses as to speak and get a few more deer under my belt as its a bit more difficult. There are a few chaps who reckon they can get you through the dsc2 in a weekend if the deer are about ( culls usually) and it your wallets big enough but is this what its really all about.

 

There are those who will take your money for three witnessed culls but hopefully this is now at an end, you can be turned down by the Verifier even with dozens of cull records witnesed in your portfolio if he aint satisfied of your competence on questioning it happened to me as the assesor who initially recieved my portfolio was to put it bluntly an idiot with issues who was removed from the posision following my interrigation for want of a better description from the Verifier i passed he was happy with my knoledge and i suppose he failed . It is foolish to go into level 2 with the motive of just getting the paper behind you many talk of three witnessed culls but this is a minimum requirement the thing is about dsc2 is proving your knoledge

[Raja Clavata]

You obviously think you passed Raja, I think you may know alittle more than you suggested in your original post and good luck if you have. I have stuck a tenner toward the flood appeal just for your neck mate but I disagree with your thoughts on the big game handling. I shoot with a Dsc assessor and he reckons alot of experienced deer stalkers fall down on the big game handling and the shooting test, thats just his opinion I suppose but I tend to believe him.

Its fair to say though that its good advice to read the questions carefully especially if your a bit anxious. Without study I would not have known what disease enlarged retropharyngeal and mesenteric nodes would suggest and guys on the course had never heard of zoonosis. You sound very confident in this field Raja, surprised you did no know your ident so well.

Anyway, I don't mean to pick holes in ya mate, just defending the course as I found it very useful, whether its law or not.

As for the DSC2 I was recommended to hold me horses as to speak and get a few more deer under my belt as its a bit more difficult. There are a few chaps who reckon they can get you through the dsc2 in a weekend if the deer are about ( culls usually) and it your wallets big enough but is this what its really all about.

 

 

Fair cop. We're all different I guess - I've done a fair bit of casual, but reasonably detailed, study into the ecology and behaviour of fish and reptiles in the past so things like zoonotics and "technical" terms involving the likes of pharyngeal give me an educated guess at worse.

 

On the ID front I think I already stated that I've only seen 3 out of the 6 species in the flesh. During the test I was pooling from memory of a few still pictures of each of the unfamiliar ones and perhaps 4 of the 20 in the test were quite subtle and tricky (for example the only red stag image had 8 point antlers which were far from being wide set and the nature of the picture made it difficult to be sure about angles - I've seen a lot of reds but no Sika and initially thought that beast was a Sika)

 

I think the significant thing is that it's relatively easy to know / deduce what the disease is, given that someone has just told you / diagnosed an abnormality for you, the challenge would be in diagnosing yourself that lymph node X or organ Y is abnornal. I'm very much looking forward to going through that myself as part of the DSC2 training (I assume).

 

None of my comments were meant to take anything away from the course - whilst not able to comment on the course myself I know I've learnt a lot going through the preparation and assessment. I now know enough to know I don't know very much in the big scheme of things.

 

I do actually find the notion that someone referring to themselves / referred to by others as an "experienced stalker" can turn up for the shooting test and struggle / fail very disturbing and I hope that's something we can all agree on!?

 

On DSC2, is there a time-out period between registering and completing? I know I stated a preference in getting it done ASAP but was thinking in terms of many months rather than days or weeks (I'm keen but not that keen). Personally would like the three "witnessed" to be on three different species.

[skyshooter]

Yes, it is now an open ticket, however I have an accompanied condition for the time being for deer stalking only, I can use the .243 for fox [on my own] but was told that for the first year I would need to be accompanied deer stalking, all other calibres are fine. After a year or so I can re-apply with further evidence to have that restriction lifted. For me that's not too much of a problem as I've always gone with one or other of the mentors whilst stalking. In fact the only thing I do on my own is the rabbit shooting.

 

I did'nt know it was law to get DSC1 before getting a stalking rifle. My pals and me just had a land check and we're cleared upto 7mmRem Mag. No mentoring, accompaniment or anything and we've got open tickets. we can shoot deer anytime (in season). Mind you its not a bad idea to get instruction

[mick miller]

I did'nt know it was law to get DSC1 before getting a stalking rifle. My pals and me just had a land check and we're cleared upto 7mmRem Mag. No mentoring, accompaniment or anything and we've got open tickets. we can shoot deer anytime (in season). Mind you its not a bad idea to get instruction

 

 

To be honest, it's not law to get a DSC1 or 2.... yet. However I can see a point in the future when it becomes accepted that a qualification is required before you can have deer added to a certificate. I don't have a DSC1, all my mentoring has been with 2 very experienced stalkers with over 30 years of knowledge and hands on experience between them. My condition, that I need to be accompanied for the first year, was almost certainly as a result of my conversation with my FEO. I suggested that although I have used, under supervision, many large calibre rifles that this would be my first centrefire rifle and that I would prefer to continue the one to one mentoring with it for a year before applying to have that condition lifted.

 

Having read Raja's posts (and apologies to him for the slight hijack) and the replies I am now interested in taking the DSC1 for myself, I have already ordered the manual and will spend the next few weeks and months studying it, I'm sure there are things that I have been taught to do differently and just from a general 'more knowledge is a good thing' perspective I would like to see what is contained within and what is involved in the course. There may be things that I continue to do differently, there may be things that I adopt, I'll have to wait and see.

[Redgum]

The Gloucestershire constabulary have almost made it law unto themselves for DSC1 being needed before putting deer on your license. For anyone considering doing the DSC1 and needs advice on it and what it entails just post on here, between me, Raja and a few others I'm sure we can be of great help.

[kent]

Fair cop. We're all different I guess - I've done a fair bit of casual, but reasonably detailed, study into the ecology and behaviour of fish and reptiles in the past so things like zoonotics and "technical" terms involving the likes of pharyngeal give me an educated guess at worse.

 

On the ID front I think I already stated that I've only seen 3 out of the 6 species in the flesh. During the test I was pooling from memory of a few still pictures of each of the unfamiliar ones and perhaps 4 of the 20 in the test were quite subtle and tricky (for example the only red stag image had 8 point antlers which were far from being wide set and the nature of the picture made it difficult to be sure about angles - I've seen a lot of reds but no Sika and initially thought that beast was a Sika)

 

I think the significant thing is that it's relatively easy to know / deduce what the disease is, given that someone has just told you / diagnosed an abnormality for you, the challenge would be in diagnosing yourself that lymph node X or organ Y is abnornal. I'm very much looking forward to going through that myself as part of the DSC2 training (I assume).

 

None of my comments were meant to take anything away from the course - whilst not able to comment on the course myself I know I've learnt a lot going through the preparation and assessment. I now know enough to know I don't know very much in the big scheme of things.

 

I do actually find the notion that someone referring to themselves / referred to by others as an "experienced stalker" can turn up for the shooting test and struggle / fail very disturbing and I hope that's something we can all agree on!?

 

On DSC2, is there a time-out period between registering and completing? I know I stated a preference in getting it done ASAP but was thinking in terms of many months rather than days or weeks (I'm keen but not that keen). Personally would like the three "witnessed" to be on three different species.

 

Firstly 3 is a minimum you must submit a portfolio that proves your compatency. for example shooting 16 might not get you a pass. I don't think there is a time limit and you couldn't fail when i did mine but you could get it sent back without a pass and instruction to gather more evidence etc. This was some time ago now though and things might have changed.

[Raja Clavata]

How long do the results take to come through RC?

Ours were marked while we had a cup of tea and "what did you put for question 11?" type banter.

Ten minutes later we were called back in and they were read out there and then in front of the whole class.

 

Certificate arrived today so that 2 weeks to the day from assessment to receipt

[Beardo]

well done mate!

can i have a copy of your crib sheet (you have my email).

 

oh and reading backa question that came up, you can get the course book direct from the BDS

[Raja Clavata]

well done mate!

can i have a copy of your crib sheet (you have my email).

 

oh and reading backa question that came up, you can get the course book direct from the BDS

 

'twould be a pleasure squire - in fact just sent it. Thank-you for your help up front too!

 

PS - don't go winding the mag up on the shooting test just because you can 8x is ample

[apache]

I put together an excel crib sheet of the seasons, key attributes of each of the six species etc.

 

PM me with an email address and I'll send that on - it may help.

Did I ever thank you for this? I think I may have forgotten. Thanks :lol: :lol: :P

[Beardo]

'twould be a pleasure squire - in fact just sent it. Thank-you for your help up front too!

 

PS - don't go winding the mag up on the shooting test just because you can 8x is ample

I'm not worried about the shooting test as I regularly do the basc stalker's test which is much harder. I struggle with dates and id.

Thanks again for crib sheet

[jay222]

what does the basc stalkers test require?

[Beardo]

10 shots all from 100 yards - there's no pass or fail, just a score (each shot out of 10, 10 being in the 4" circle, there's also a 10* which is a 2" circle)

 

2 prone

2 sitting

2 kneeling

2 standing

2 bench, elbows resting only

[bottletopbill]

Raja Clavata

who did you book your  assessment with as  due to not having time for three days I can only do test and study at home.

Don't need it as i have a open ticket from met any legal quarry but feel i should take the test only. Can you send it to me to please

Bill 

Edited August 20, 2022 by bottletopbill

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Gordon Bennett!   

[millrace]

3 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Gordon Bennett!   

Almost 12yrs.....must be pw record??

[Savhmr]

Not law and no, Glos cannot stipulate it must be had.  All Glos really need is evidence of competence for safety in handling firearms before letting people roam loose with a 308 around the fields.  It just happens that DSC1 provides the most basic of evidential tests in the safe handling and shooting part of the course.  Saying that, I took mine years ago with Corinium at Ciren and tis was enough to satisfy Glos at that time.  I would recommend anyone new to stalking to do the course in any event.  You do learn a lot of interesting and useful stuff and I was surprised by how many old hands attending the course ended up fluffing their shooting test....not nerves so much as not the moa shots they claimed to be!

[HantsRob]

A good use of the search function! I found 2 chokes still for sale from feb due to it!

[oowee]

I did mine a number of years ago paid for courtesy of Stalking Directory. For me the ID test was by far the hardest still not sure which I got wrong 🙂 and second was trying to remember the season dates. I did the training and assessment over three weekends and Got a lot out of it in particular the chance to meet with and chatr to like minded shooters. 

I too could not believe how many people simply could not shoot. 

[udderlyoffroad]

3 hours ago, HantsRob said:

A good use of the search function!

Quite correct, far better practice than creating yet another thread on the same topic.  Wish some people on here were less trigger-happy with the 'create new topic' button and learnt to use search.  The site's own or, in google entering

site:forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk <your query here>