fieldwanderer Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 I'm looking to upgrade to a larger calibre rifle sometime over the next year or so because I'd like to get into stalking - I have Roe on my permissions and permission to shoot them. When I put in for my current c/f for fox, the f.l.o agreed everything (.22/250 + aolq & open ticket) and while I was waiting for it to come through, the farmer asked me to thin the deer out when I asked to up the variation to .243, the firearms people started dragging their heels - so I left it alone, stupidly. There was talk of Dsc1 and land inspections but, frankly, I think it was more about avoiding paperwork So, the plan is to do my Dsc1 in the next few months and a couple of paid stalks over the year in the hope that it'll make everything run nice and smooth. I know there's no written rules that force me to do such things but, in my case, I think it'd probably make sense whilst also playing their game. However, I have to admit I'm very new to the stalking scene and wondered if any of you could help in any way? Does the above sound like a good plan or can you think of a better way? Can you suggest any ways of building experience whilst keeping costs down a bit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 This is exactly what I had to do, Gloucestershire Firearms insisted on the DSC1 as I had little experience of shooting deer. I'm glad I did it as its led onto doing my DSC2 which opened a few doors to more stalking and I'm now an accredited witness for the DSC2. Recently I have heard that the same force will now give the choice of dsc1 or alternatively a mentoring condition. The DSC1 does give some important information on deer, law, safety and shot placement but does not give any hands on experience in stalking and the grallock. It is a certainly a steep learning curve when you have grassed your first fallow and your standing there with your knife wondering were to start so if you can go out with someone to show you the ropes it will help immensely. Being shown how to skin and butcher will also save you a lot of time in experimentation though there are some excellent footage on youtube to help you on the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldwanderer Posted February 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Ah, I'm a little ahead of you in that respect mate, having gralloched two roe, butchering the second. Amazing what you can learn online. That said, like I said earlier; I've no problems with doing the course or building up a little experience first to prove my "good reason". What I'm after is advice on how to best get that experience without spending too much. Out of curiosity, would it be possible to do a deal with someone with the relevant rifle and conditions to come with me on my permission with them shooting first and then me using their rifle on another outing and they write some sort of statement to say they've stalked with me and found me to be up to the job (assuming they did of course)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 IMO the quickest solution would be find a trustworthy, experienced local stalker and have come onto your land with you as you have suggested. I would have thought most would jump at the chance, they can write to your FEO to say they have mentored you for a reasonable period of time and are happy you can shot unaccompanied. It may cost you a few beers & breakfasts, but in the grand scheme of things its nothing. If I were you I would do the DSC1 anyway even if it just for your own education, you will learn a lot doing so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 You could give Neutron619 (?) a PM also. He's been through this entire process fairly recently as he had nowhere and nothing to shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nderfel Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 IMO the quickest solution would be find a trustworthy, experienced local stalker and have come onto your land with you as you have suggested. I would have thought most would jump at the chance, they can write to your FEO to say they have mentored you for a reasonable period of time and are happy you can shot unaccompanied. It may cost you a few beers & breakfasts, but in the grand scheme of things its nothing. If I were you I would do the DSC1 anyway even if it just for your own education, you will learn a lot doing so. Spot on. That's pretty much what I did, I was mentored by someone with their DSC2 who then wrote a letter to the FLO stating I had been on x stalks and he considered me safe and experienced enough to go it alone. Off the back of that I was granted a .308 slot on my first license application with no attempt at adding conditions. Hope that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldwanderer Posted February 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Thank you all very much, sounds like I'm on the right track then. As a related question, I'd like to start revising now to give myself a little head start. I nearly bought two books earlier that both looked to be good for what I'm after but I'm wondering if the ultimate deer data cd would be a better idea (though a bit more expensive than both books put together). Any thoughts/opinions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moose man Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 If you fancy a day out in Sussex in August on the fallow bucks let me know ...this will only be on cull animals but will give you a start .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldwanderer Posted February 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 If you fancy a day out in Sussex in August on the fallow bucks let me know ...this will only be on cull animals but will give you a start .. Sounds good to me, you have a p.m. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 Ah, I'm a little ahead of you in that respect mate, having gralloched two roe, butchering the second. Amazing what you can learn online. That said, like I said earlier; I've no problems with doing the course or building up a little experience first to prove my "good reason". What I'm after is advice on how to best get that experience without spending too much. Out of curiosity, would it be possible to do a deal with someone with the relevant rifle and conditions to come with me on my permission with them shooting first and then me using their rifle on another outing and they write some sort of statement to say they've stalked with me and found me to be up to the job (assuming they did of course)? Not sure of the legalities of you using someone else's rifle on your ground, using someone else's rifle on their ground were they hold the stalking rights is another thing. I have recently been asked to mentor someone for 308 as they have the odd porker running onto their farm land, my force specified that the person in question has to apply for the calibre stating the reason to possess and if granted it would have a condition on it stating that he would only be able to go out with that calibre with his mentor for a period of 3 months. That said most forces have their own rules on such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldwanderer Posted February 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 Sounds about right knowing what they're like, I'm sure it makes sense to them. Thanks again for the help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 Buy the Richard Prior Roe book FW. I have a few books on stalking but that is the read most often. Using someone else's rifle on your ground I think needs permission from the land owner(?) But I get that verified first. Good luck, but be warned it is addictive.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldwanderer Posted February 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 I have deer watch by the same but can't say it's been all that helpful. I'll get it though, I do like a shooting related book when the weather's not great. Any suggestions of books that will help me through the dsc1? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Any suggestions of books that will help me through the dsc1? Will cost probably £300? to include the dedicated manual, on line training also an option, probable extra cost? Good luck and enjoy the journey! om Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimh Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 (edited) Get the ultimate deer data cd as it's a parrot q and a Re you have, 'I'm a little ahead of you in that respect mate, having gralloched two roe, butchering the second. Amazing what you can learn online' We presume you knew what to look for before you entered it into the human food chain if you did so that is.... get yourself on thestalkingdirectory Edited March 5, 2015 by kimh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldwanderer Posted March 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 Get the ultimate deer data cd as it's a parrot q and a Re you have, 'I'm a little ahead of you in that respect mate, having gralloched two roe, butchering the second. Amazing what you can learn online' We presume you knew what to look for before you entered it into the human food chain if you did so that is.... get yourself on thestalkingdirectory I've got U.D.D now. And yes, I did a fair bit of reading up first but it (the venison) only went as far as home so no problems legally at least. Here's a question though regarding the ultimate deer data disc. In the deer I. D. Slides,there's two pictures that I'm convinced are roe does in winter coat, both have the tassle on their bum (sorry, can't remember the term) and both have the characteristic nose like the toe of a boot (broad, black and shiny (ish). Yet it says incorrect when I select female roe. Is it a known mistake or am I missing something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimh Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 I will try and did the disc out and have a look for you buy I`m not aware or recal an error Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 Here's a question though regarding the ultimate deer data disc. In the deer I. D. Slides,there's two pictures that I'm convinced are roe does in winter coat, both have the tassle on their bum (sorry, can't remember the term) and both have the characteristic nose like the toe of a boot (broad, black and shiny (ish). Yet it says incorrect when I select female roe. Is it a known mistake or am I missing something? Can you upload the picture to here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimh Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 (edited) Take a screen shot and up load it. Chances are it`s a CWD in a winter coat, look for the larger than life fluffy ears without a dark edge. Have you got the David Stretton training manual yet? Edited March 7, 2015 by kimh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldwanderer Posted March 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2015 I tried, the files are too big but the weird thing is they both now say correct!? Maybe I clicked something other than the one I meant to or maybe it's a glitch - either way, I'm not losing my marbles just yet so I'm happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimh Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 get the A4 book you will always use it as a re-reference book. They come up on thestalkingdirectory (you on there yet?) you got the official copy of one from Disney Land, good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldwanderer Posted March 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 I have the bds training manual too (in book form) and am currently working my way through the questions, searching for the correct answer and highlighting it, I'll then use it to mark mock tests which will in turn point me at what I need to re-read. And a piccy, sorry about the quality but hopefully it's clear enough , what's wrong here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted March 10, 2015 Report Share Posted March 10, 2015 Female Roe in winter pelage prob about four years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldwanderer Posted March 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2015 If you look carefully though, that's what I ticked and at the bottom it says incorrect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 Roe doe with prominent anal tush. Carry on and tick all of the alternate options and let us know when you get the correct one. I ll laugh if it is a male red deer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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