Is there a requirement for DSC level 1 for Stalking in Northern Ireland?

[Harv308]

Is there anyone on here can help please. My son recently moved to NI and has applied for change of address to his Scottish Firearms and Shotgun certificates. He only has his shotguns over with him and I keep the rifles here in Scotland meantime as all rifles n shotguns are on both our certificates.
PNSI have been out and he will be getting his certificates no problem in Ireland but the girl has been on the phone again querying what the rifles on his certificate are for and when he said deer stalking she said he requires DSC 1 before he can stalk in Ireland ?
Is this a requirement in NI?
Thanks in anticipation!

 

[Harv308]

Is DSC LEVEL 1 required before you can stalk deer in Northern Ireland?
Asking for my son who has recently moved there.
Thanks in anticipation!

 

[palmer_mike]

No

 

[Harv308]

No

Thanks for that. My son holds Scottish firearm and shotgun certificates and has had PSNI out to change his certificates to NI ones Which he is getting no problem. We both have all the guns on both our certificates and at present I keep the rifles here in Scotland. PSNI phoned him today querying what he used his rifles for and when he said deer stalking she told him that dsc1 was required in NI to shoot deer. I’m an approved witness for dsc2 and was pretty sure that was not the case.

 

[the scudd]

As far as I’m aware, you don’t need it but you will have fun getting a deer calibre rifle without it

 

[Harv308]

As far as I’m aware, you don’t need it but you will have fun getting a deer calibre rifle without it

He already has the deer calibre rifles on his certificate.

 

[the scudd]

Good luck
Let me know how you get on

 

[Harv308]

Good luck
Let me know how you get on

Thanks. I’ve been at him for years to do his DSC 1 but always too busy. I’m an approved witness for DSC 2 so it’s been frustrating!

 

[Dunwaters]

I did my DSC1 in Norniron 3 years ago and more than 1/2 the course were local guys looking to get .223’s for F class but they had deer stalking down as their reason to acquire ( there must be more muntjac than I thought in the Ards peninsula).
If you son can demonstrate that he has stalking in Scotland or in the ROI there shouldn’t be a problem .
Ask the PSNI feo, no point in going in blind, even if you can’t keep your rifle a nice semi auto pistol would definitely be on the cards.

 

[Harv308]

I did my DSC1 in Norniron 3 years ago and more than 1/2 the course were local guys looking to get .223’s for F class but they had deer stalking down as their reason to acquire ( there must be more muntjac than I thought in the Ards peninsula).
If you son can demonstrate that he has stalking in Scotland or in the ROI there shouldn’t be a problem .
Ask the PSNI feo, no point in going in blind, even if you can’t keep your rifle a nice semi auto pistol would definitely be on the cards.

There doesn’t seem to be a problem with the certificates as he already has the rifles. It was just the fact she said to him that DSC was required to shoot deer in NI

 

[Dunwaters]

There doesn’t seem to be a problem with the certificates as he already has the rifles. It was just the fact she said to him that DSC was required to shoot deer in NI

Northern Ireland has its own highly individual rules and regs, so fair enough they’ll probably grant the rifle certs with no problem on initial transfer of address.
But there might be an issue so ask first would be my advice.
There’s definitely going to be a lot of tooth sucking when you apply to transfer your spiffing new Glock 9mm or .45 Model 911 back to your Scottish address.

 

[Roestalker39]

Not at all not in the slightest little bit and in no way a requirement for deer calibres

 

[Roestalker39]

As far as I’m aware, you don’t need it but you will have fun getting a deer calibre rifle without it

And that’s what’s F@&£ing us up right there , that attitude

 

[the scudd]

Wtf
Nothing to do with attitude
That’s how they are

 

[Roestalker39]

Wtf
Nothing to do with attitude
That’s how they are

Challenge them then

 

[Gmm243]

I had to do my DSC1 to get my .243 for stalking.A good few years ago now but you had to produce a copy of the cert before they would grant my rifle.Anyone I stalk with had to do the same.
It may have changed by now but it was certainly a requirement when I was looking for a stalking rifle.
Transferring the rifles from your Scottish address may have a different requirement.

 

[Roestalker39]

I had to do my DSC1 to get my .243 for stalking.A good few years ago now but you had to produce a copy of the cert before they would grant my rifle.Anyone I stalk with had to do the same.
It may have changed by now but it was certainly a requirement when I was looking for a stalking rifle.
Transferring the rifles from your Scottish address may have a different requirement.

It’s not a legal requirement at all just another example of the police using these courses wrongly

 

[Dickturpin]

Far as I'm aware after having completed my DSC 1 earlier this year..I have been told it's not a legal requirement but certainly gives them less grounds to query etc when applying for a rifle....are you a manner of any organisation?? Let them help you with the application..chances are it's a jobsworth who doesn't understand the full ins and outs other than reading what you've applied for.....defo have a word with the feo for the area

 

[Harv308]

This is my son who has held his firearm certificate for 18 years and has had his own .243 for about 16 years. He has recently moved over to NI and is transferring his Scottish certificates to NI. He has over 18 years experience of stalking deer. He is a member of BASC and has been in touch with them. They are happy to help him. Just waiting on what comes back on his certificates

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hi. I live in NI and can advise that deer stalking opportunities over here are very few and far between! However, if the lad can prove his 18 yrs of experience e.g. Letters from Estates/Professional Stalkers etc., and he has a DSC.1 or similar (desirable but not essential if you can prove significant experience) he should be ok. His NI FAC will probably be "Open" enabling him to shoot on any "suitable" land where he has permission for deer - in view of the lack of deer here actually getting NI landowners' permissions might be a significant problem! However if this is so and all else fails he could argue that he will be continuing to shoot in Scotland as a visitor and enclose appropriate written permissions with his NI application. Be interesting to hear how he gets on.
Good luck to him.
B