JustFieldsports Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 Dear All, It seems like a much talked about topic and although I found an old thread on this subject, I would be interested on people's latest opinions and experiences. My situation; I would like to get into deer (and hopefully not too dear ;-) ) stalking. I have a nice empty .243 slot on my 'ticket' with 'deer stalking' as the reason. The obvious next step (to my mind) is a DSC Level 1 course. So, opinions and thoughts please? BDS with their newly reduced course prices? Or BASC? Should add that I'm based on the Herts, Beds, Bucks border and would prefer not to travel a million miles! Also, am I right in thinking that the DSC course incorporates the Wild Game Hygiene qualification, or am I making that up? Thanks in advance, Graeme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshLamb Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 Theres a chap on here who does DSC courses, (cant remeber his name - helpful I know ) Im sure he'll be along shortly! Welcome to the nut house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 To be honest, I never bothered with the course. I have been stalking for many years, and learnt all there is to know from my mentor, and whilst accompanying other more experienced stalkers. I have deer stalking on my ticket, for my .243 & .308, and can also use these two calibers for fox control. I'm afraid that one day, to get deer stalking on your FAC, a DSC 1 certificate could become compulsary. Welcome to PW, by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustFieldsports Posted June 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 Thanks WelshLamb. Steve, I think you're absolutely right, I think it is the way it's going. The condition on my FAC currently requires to be accompanied. Unfortunately, I don't have a mentor, as such, and I feel that at the very least the DSC course would give me a lot of the information that you have, no doubt, picked up over the years from your mentor and other stalkers. I've got a .17HMR on my ticket too which deals with foxes nicely, and I did wonder whether I might get a variance on my .243 (when I get it) to include foxes to at least give me some hands-on practice rather than just targets! Thanks for the input. Graeme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 Theres a chap on here who does DSC courses, (cant remeber his name - helpful I know ) Im sure he'll be along shortly! Welcome to the nut house Search on jellen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crouch valley Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 (edited) Hi Graeme you would be right in thinking DSC1 dose include you large game hygiene certificate. I know we are not that close but we run courses in Essex and Hampshire regularly. We also offer a interactive learning centre which you can access 24-7 when you subscribe with us that has all the mock tests and ID pictures so you can get up to speed with the revision at home then its just two days course with us. If you require any more info or help please don't hesitate to Email me at dan.cockett@jelendeer.com All the best with it who ever you decide to go with. Edited June 8, 2012 by Jelen Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted June 9, 2012 Report Share Posted June 9, 2012 Dear All, It seems like a much talked about topic and although I found an old thread on this subject, I would be interested on people's latest opinions and experiences. My situation; I would like to get into deer (and hopefully not too dear ;-) ) stalking. I have a nice empty .243 slot on my 'ticket' with 'deer stalking' as the reason. The obvious next step (to my mind) is a DSC Level 1 course. So, opinions and thoughts please? BDS with their newly reduced course prices? Or BASC? Should add that I'm based on the Herts, Beds, Bucks border and would prefer not to travel a million miles! Also, am I right in thinking that the DSC course incorporates the Wild Game Hygiene qualification, or am I making that up? Thanks in advance, Graeme BDS run the best courses IMO with the best people, some only cover enough to pass- this is not how BDS do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 As said Jelendeer in Essex are easy to get to from you and the big plus is running a weekend course. However much you think you know without doing it i'd suggest is probably not as much as you think you do. Then there are proper ways and not so proper ways. I finally am doing mine this weekend having done a fair few stalks and there has been plenty of new stuff come up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huffhuff Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Myself and a couple of other Herts lads did our DSC1 at http://www.doningtondeermanagement.co.uk. I cannot tell you how much you will learn on the course. I've spoken to stalkers of old that know it all and have been doing it for years - even they learn! The course we did was via BASC but I think David Stretton has his fingers in all the pies (BDS and DMQ). We chose to go there based on reputation (and the amazing lunches that are included) and stayed in a B&B a few nights. As above, the health and hygiene is part of the course. Wherever you decide to go, enjoy and learn Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustFieldsports Posted June 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Thanks guys! @al4x - Happily I can hold my hands up and say that at this stage I know nothing - with the exception of the fundamentals of firearms law pertaining to deer stalking. so I am really keen to find the course from which I will learn the most. I'm certainly not just looking for the qualification, or a 'quick fix' so very much interested in doing things the 'proper' way and learning as much as possible and avoiding, as 'kent' suggests above, any companies who just teach you enough to pass the tests. @huffhuff - Thanks for that Ben. I think you're absolutely right - as with any subject, there is always new stuff to learn and it's great to be open to new ideas and opinions. I'm guessing from your post that you would certainly recommend the BASC course? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huffhuff Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Thanks guys! @al4x - Happily I can hold my hands up and say that at this stage I know nothing - with the exception of the fundamentals of firearms law pertaining to deer stalking. so I am really keen to find the course from which I will learn the most. I'm certainly not just looking for the qualification, or a 'quick fix' so very much interested in doing things the 'proper' way and learning as much as possible and avoiding, as 'kent' suggests above, any companies who just teach you enough to pass the tests. @huffhuff - Thanks for that Ben. I think you're absolutely right - as with any subject, there is always new stuff to learn and it's great to be open to new ideas and opinions. I'm guessing from your post that you would certainly recommend the BASC course? Indeed I would, but I've not done the BDS course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasons gold Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Having done the dsc1 with jelen deer, i can certainly say, they wont just give you the info just to pass the course, the package that they deal in goes way beyond that. And can highly recommend jelen deer services. I have been fortunate to learn from two very good stalkers, and i bet if i asked them, they would say you never stop learning. The more people you can learn from the better as everybody will do something slightly different Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crouch valley Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Thanks for your kind words Jasons gold I would personally like to think that jelen take the DSC course very seriously and we will always go the extra mile to help any one out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Justgundogs if you want to borrow the manual let me know as hopefully I won't be needing it for a while, basically the DSC is a mixture of learning both on the course but also from the manual and a few other places, I found it useful doing a fair bit of different stalking with different people and then doing it. Worked well and its amazing how many guides round the place have variations on best practice and quite often far from best practice. At the end of the day doing it with some knowledge lets you fill in the gaps in your knowledge and ask any questions you want. With Jelen its a good atmosphere with people that do quite a lot of different kinds of deer work, I did a park cull with them for practical gralloching and larder experience and that really was ideal as a way of doing a few in one day and being shown the inspection process a few times. Not sure I'd do it again but you either take to it or you don't in the park environment. At the end of the day its a bit of paper that helps with gaining stalking and with keeping a deer legal rifle, its an exercise to go through but don't expect to just go on the course and learn the lot as there is far more to it than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 To be honest, I never bothered with the course. I have been stalking for many years, and learnt all there is to know from my mentor, and whilst accompanying other more experienced stalkers. I have deer stalking on my ticket, for my .243 & .308, and can also use these two calibers for fox control. I'm afraid that one day, to get deer stalking on your FAC, a DSC 1 certificate could become compulsary. Welcome to PW, by the way. You need a DMQ to sell carcases to the game dealer in your own name because you need the registered hunter number. Ok without if you're shooting under the auspices of someone qualified or filling your own freezer. Chief Constables have cottoned on to this. If you can't sell the carcase its a point against your reason to possess. So yes, expect compulsory qualification some time soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remy 700 Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Myself and a couple of other Herts lads did our DSC1 at http://www.doningtondeermanagement.co.uk. I cannot tell you how much you will learn on the course. I've spoken to stalkers of old that know it all and have been doing it for years - even they learn! The course we did was via BASC but I think David Stretton has his fingers in all the pies (BDS and DMQ). We chose to go there based on reputation (and the amazing lunches that are included) and stayed in a B&B a few nights. As above, the health and hygiene is part of the course. Wherever you decide to go, enjoy and learn Ben I will also highly recommend Dave at Donnington superb , grand family , and ditto all Bens comments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmer_mike Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 I did my DSC1 last weekend at Jelen (essex). The course was fantastic, we all learn't alot from the instructors - and given that the group size that they have there are quite small (6 on mine) there is plenty of oppertunity for one to one help if anyone needs a little extra. In the lead up to the course i contacted Dan who is one of the organisers at Jelen Essex and he was kind enough to let me use his range and rifle for a bit of practice for the shooting test (this really helped - was a great confidence boost when it came to the real thing!). In addition to the excellent teaching on the course, they offer an internet based revision and practice test programme. This was fantastic while revising for the tests on the course and all the others on our course who had used it seemed to think so as well. I'd have no hesitation in recommending Jelen for your DSC1, they also have a very very good pass rate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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