From my perspective as a recreational stalker:
For the current thinking in Scotland, and the history behind it, see
The management of wild deer in Scotland: Deer Working Group report - gov.scot published on 5 Feb. 2020.
T
he Deer Working Group was established by the Scottish
Government in 2017, as a result of the Government’s
concern at the continuing issues over the standards of deer
management in Scotland and the levels of damage to public
interests caused by wild deer.
The Group was appointed as an independent working group to
review the existing statutory and non-statutory arrangements
for the management of wild deer in Scotland, taking account
of the position with each of the four species of wild deer in
Scotland and the varying circumstances across Scotland.
This Report is the result of the Group’s review and contains a
wide range of recommendations to fulfil the Group’s remit to
make “recommendations for changes to ensure effective deer
management that safeguards public interests and promotes
the sustainable management of wild deer”.
For example, study paras. 76 and 81.
76 The provisions in s.17A are based on the proposals that the DCS started to develop over 15 years ago and which were predicated on a number of interlocking proposals that the Group considers out of date. As reflected by paragraphs (b) and (c) of sub-section 1, the register envisaged by DCS would be restricted to those who had achieved DSC2 and counted as ‘fit and competent’, with everyone else needing to be supervised by a DSC2 holder or have an equivalent foreign qualification.
81 While a DSC1 is not a qualification that currently needs to be renewed, re-registration could be required after a period (for example, 10 years) to remove those from the register who no longer shoot deer in Scotland (e.g. having died, retired, moved away, etc.). As DSC2 certificates require to be renewed every five years, a registration at that advanced level would end with the renewal date of the certificate and require to be renewed if the holder wanted. As a DSC2 holder has to have passed DSC1, they could stay on the register at that basic level.
I was certainly not aware that a DSC2 expires after five years ? Is this correct or have I misunderstood ? Would there be a fee to apply to be put on this register ?
You can download all 374 pages of the official report from here:
I am interested to learn more about the forthcoming changes to DSC2, as an interested party, who has not yet felt a pressing need to take it. I am quietly confident in my gralloching skills, having shot several deer before my DSC1, more afterwards (under the mentoring of my guides, who were AWs), and also been invited to help in the larder during a park cull, when I gralloched eight more deer one day, then the following week returned to be trained to skin and butcher them for sale at the estate's market stall.
If, on my next guided stalk, I can have the chance to get my DSC2 in one go, that is appealing. I am also of the opinion that the DSC1 multiple-choice theory test for Large Game Handling / Trained Hunter was all very well, but it was very clear on my DSC1 course with 20 participants, that I was one of only three who had any practical experience, the others never having shot a deer before, never mind seen inside one. Most were genuinely interested in learning. A couple less so, they both failed despite being offered the opportunity to resit the papers they failed, with additional personal coaching. And little time was spent on the game handling lecture, despite it being a full three day course. Were most of the candidates now qualified to put deer into the food chain safely ? I have my own opinion on that. I was also astounded at how many failed the simulated stalk and shooting test at first attempt.
Will DSC1 be revised to remove that qualification, albeit teach the theory, and move it over to DSC2 to prove practical experience ? Mightn't be a bad thing.
When I book my next guided stalk part of my decision will be based on whether the guide is an AW under the new scheme. If not, I probably won't book with them. So please Malcolm, don't resign just yet.
Once I have it, of course that decision could be different. Though I would still hope that my guides were qualified AWs, from whom I could continue to learn. Even little things, like how to age a deer by its teeth wear, how to select the best candidates as part of a cull plan, how to spot deer better, etc. etc. I think that being an AW must add credibility when choosing a new guide
I have spent a lot of money over the years paying for my guided stalking, albeit only a few times each year, but over the years that has added up to a tidy amount, as well as things like travel with my GF to attend a free three day Best Practice event put on by SNH, held in the grounds of Balmoral Castle, courtesy of the Queen. That is a special place. Learning all sorts of things in hands on practical classes, such as e.g. habitat impact assessment, terminal ballistic effects, bullet and calibre choices, butchery (we each got half a deer to practice on, in teams of two), to gourmet cookery, to the effects of how meat is hung in the larder for varying periods, many other things. As well as getting to meet with a great bunch of like minded people. And their dogs. My GF has also helped out on another deer park, putting the animals through the crush and giving them their inoculations etc. Whilst she doesn't shoot, she is at least as keen as me on learning as much as we can on every aspect of the subject.
