The origins of the DSC1

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perdix

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I've recently been introduced to a chap who I've taken a bit of a dislike to as I believe he is a bit of a Walter Mitty.
Up until now i have been regaled tales of how he has been a grouse keeper in North Yorkshire,a paid stalker on an estate down in the south of England and all this on top of being a serving police officer for many years (allegedly helping Charlie Parks in his career)
Up until now I was very dubious but his latest claim to fame is that he was instrumental in the founding of the DSC1!
So I was wondering if any of you chaps might know where and when the test was put together and by whom?
 
It evolved from the WSCC (woodland stalkers certificate of competence) later changed to NSCC (national stalkers certificate of competence) A joint effort between the BDS and the St Huberts Club.
DMQ was set up in 1997 by directors of other official bodies connected with deer such as BASC, BDS, SNH and the FC. It was originally known as WDMQ but the W has been dropped.

I've often wondered if the founding members, i.e the people who wrote the questions got the qualification by default or would they have sat the exam?
 
Indeed, from the WSSC and the aforementioned chap not involved as far as I know. The BDS Training/Committee men of foresight drew on their experience no doubt with organisations they were involved with who had training already in place inc. St Hubert's Club, Defence Deer Management (as it is now called), Hampshire Agricultural College (Sparsholt) German Hunting Authority et al
I can only vouch for the originators of the Advanced Stalkers Certificate as the course that I attended in, I think 1987 in Stockbridge Village Hall was the first ever and the lecturers all had to sit the exam including, from memory Dieter Dent, Hugh Rose, Richard Prior, Norma Chapman, Alex Jagger, Dominic Griffith. They all passed by the way!
 
Hi nick j, just read your post and see you mentioned Alex jagger as one of the gents on that first course,I took my level 1 around 2000 and Alex was the instructor, 4 days in a caravan in deer park just outside of bath. Didn't realise he moved in such illustrious circles in the deer world,we all had a great time listening to his stories and all passed.do you know how he is and is he still stalking ,last saw him at game fair about 6 yrs a ago
​thanks jab.
 
NickJ you fibber - from the look of you New Years Eve before last you'd only have been 4 years old in '87 ;)

Whilst best treatment for Walter Mittism - as I found from my time as CO of SAS Delta PARA Chuck Norris Fan Club Force :doh: - is a big dose of 'so what'!

Attended 5 day BDS Management Course in April 1984 at Dieter Dent's in Stockbridge. No question papers, but the shooting element was a duplicate for the subsequent WSSC etc.

Course was led by Dieter and featured - Richard Prior, Stan Armstrong, G Kenneth Whitehead, Peter Baillie, Fred Courtier et al. RP spent sometime chatting afterwards regards the vision of the WSSC etc that hoped to follow.
 
Andy (Moray O), believe me I did not look so fresh faced the following day (Hogmanay) or the next.... and I am as young as I look, honest!
Your memory is better than mine! I have just found the certificate, it was the same Deer Management Course (actual date 21-23rd April 1988) as you did followed by the first (I think Advanced Stalkers Certificate so WSSC must have been between '85 and '88?) Indeed, I was 16 and had (rather confidently..) sat my one A level I needed and so took it upon myself to leave school! Dieter let me attend gratis if I made the tea and helped with the projectors, targets and the like. I couldn't afford the fee anyway as my parents were unaware I wasn't at study!
Dieter was my late father's game dealer (Houghton Game) when dad was stationed near Stockbridge and a lovely chap. As I was doing the targets on the range near Winchester on that course I didn't do the shooting test part and not my NSSC (by then) until 13 April 1991, then with Mike Cheshire at Langport Range then advanced at Sparsholt in 1993. However, as you know I was overseas when one needed to upgrade Advanced to Level 2 hence my very enjoyable day with you in Moray doing 2 of 3 stalks.
I met Major Baillie, GKW and Fred Courtier since so can't remember if they were there in '88. I do recall Blue Thomas and 2 colleagues attended as I got a lift with them being too young to drive!

Jab (Bandit) Mr Jagger was Training Officer of the Services Branch BDS and active in Wessex Branch at the time, I moved from the area in the early 90's so don't see him anymore I'm afraid.
 
Thanks for that fellas and the Pmers too.

Just as I thought.....................the blokes a splaffer ;)
 
Si said:
It evolved from the WSCC (woodland stalkers certificate of competence) later changed to NSCC (national stalkers certificate of competence) A joint effort between the BDS and the St Huberts Club.
DMQ was set up in 1997 by directors of other official bodies connected with deer such as BASC, BDS, SNH and the FC. It was originally known as WDMQ but the W has been dropped.

I've often wondered if the founding members, i.e the people who wrote the questions got the qualification by default or would they have sat the exam?
Click to expand...

I took and passed the BDS WSCC tests on 24th June, 1984, here in Cumbria.
I did not do a course or have any instruction as I had been stalking deer since 1961.
When DMQ came along I got the DSC1 cert. by grandfathers rights on 1st. Jan.1998.
I was accepted as a DMQ `Accredited Witness` on July 2nd 1999.

HWH.
 
Evening Hubert, hope you are feeling better. They worked quick after their April discussion evidently, your cert must be low number?
I keep missing your Borders shoots regrettably, I saw Kershaw last week and Rob said he'd done all right up with you. I'm always up in Inverness-shire for the grouse for the August do I'm afraid.
 
stag1933 said:
I took and passed the BDS WSCC tests on 24th June, 1984, here in Cumbria.
I did not do a course or have any instruction as I had been stalking deer since 1961.
When DMQ came along I got the DSC1 cert. by grandfathers rights on 1st. Jan.1998.
I was accepted as a DMQ `Accredited Witness` on July 2nd 1999.

HWH.
Click to expand...

March 1998 was the first course of the DSC1 as we know it now run by the BASC-DMQ at thetford, You must have a low number as the first course were in the low 600's.
 
NickJ said:
Evening Hubert, hope you are feeling better. They worked quick after their April discussion evidently, your cert must be low number?
I keep missing your Borders shoots regrettably, I saw Kershaw last week and Rob said he'd done all right up with you. I'm always up in Inverness-shire for the grouse for the August do I'm afraid.
Click to expand...

My DSC1 cert. number is 0334.
I am doing OK out of intensive care after the attempt to poison me but get easily tired and have dizzy spells.
Lisa kindly collected me and took me up to the shoot for prize-giving.
I no longer shoot now as huffing and puffing up and down the bank would be too much for me and the arthritic shoulders give me hell when I try to support the rifle.
Dragging Reds etc. down stony mountains since 1961 has taken its toll.

HWH.
 
Knew a policeman who was a very keen shot and he was totally against the DSC certificate when it first came out as he said it was an intrusion into shooters rights and was starting as voluntary but if supported eventually it would become compulsory ?
 
old mate of mine and very experienced stalker ray Jenkins told me he was on the first dsc1 course I'll find out his number
 
Alex Jagger took me for my NSCC way back in the 80s my cart number is 0104 so you can tell how many years ago this was maybe 35 to 38 year ago I have been stalking for close to 40 years or more now Alex was a very knowledgeable man and a very understanding man
 
Did my NSCC way back in the mid 90s down behind the New forest somewhere but I missed out on the grandfathers rights to get the DSC1 granted as it was over 5 yrs past it"s introduction so then I did that one as well in 2011 at Sparsholt College.
 
Yes well I got my grandfather rights obviously I went on to do my advanced stalkers and then I went to to Durham University and did a degree in deer and deer management . I have worked as a full-time stalker from the time I left school I work as a full-time stalker and ended up working as a full-time stalker in Scotland and eventually becoming The head stalker On a very large estate in Scotland . now I’m 60 I have finished but I must say I have had a great life and I still do a little bit of stalking now just for my own pleasure
 
Bandit said:
Hi nick j, just read your post and see you mentioned Alex jagger as one of the gents on that first course,I took my level 1 around 2000 and Alex was the instructor, 4 days in a caravan in deer park just outside of bath. Didn't realise he moved in such illustrious circles in the deer world,we all had a great time listening to his stories and all passed.do you know how he is and is he still stalking ,last saw him at game fair about 6 yrs a ago
thanks jab.
Click to expand...
Sadly Alex passed away last year. He was an inspirational and unforgetable character! He ran many WSCC courses for both BDS and SBBDS (now DDM).
 
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