Deer management course
- Thread starter grimstone
- Start date
I did the BDS Deer Management Course in the past when it ran over five days, with an optional shooting test. If you’re going to spend time actively managing deer, along with dealing with landowners, agents, foresters, etc then it can be a very useful course. I’ve certainly benefited from it when it comes to relations with estate owners. Just keep in mind that the focus is on managing deer, rather than shooting/stalking deer. If you choose to do the course you may well find there are other attendees who don’t stalk deer at all.
DSC2 is completely different, of course, with a focus on how to select, cull, inspect and process deer.
You don’t mention your motivation for looking at these two courses, but given that you say you only completed DSC1 earlier this year, and without knowing your other experience, I’d respectfully suggest you might want to hold off for a while. For DSC2 you need to have solid experience in the practical aspects of culling and processing deer through the larder. You will be observed and assessed on your competence and expertise, rather than being trained on what you should be doing. Similarly, the Deer Manager’s course is going to be applicable once you’re managing stalking ground yourself and dealing with landowners. If you’ve already been doing either or both of the above for years, please accept my apologies, but in their absence then a few months after DSC1 is not necessarily the time to be embarking on another course.
DSC2 is completely different, of course, with a focus on how to select, cull, inspect and process deer.
You don’t mention your motivation for looking at these two courses, but given that you say you only completed DSC1 earlier this year, and without knowing your other experience, I’d respectfully suggest you might want to hold off for a while. For DSC2 you need to have solid experience in the practical aspects of culling and processing deer through the larder. You will be observed and assessed on your competence and expertise, rather than being trained on what you should be doing. Similarly, the Deer Manager’s course is going to be applicable once you’re managing stalking ground yourself and dealing with landowners. If you’ve already been doing either or both of the above for years, please accept my apologies, but in their absence then a few months after DSC1 is not necessarily the time to be embarking on another course.
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Thanks or your reply, yes you’re right, I would like to get another year or two under my belt before attempting DSC2. The DMQ however I’m interested in to be able to put myself forward for deer management opportunities in the future, something Ive always wanted to do.
jimmy milnes
Well-Known Member
A friend and I did it a few years ago and yes i enjoyed it.
I questioned that I thought it would have been a better idea from the organisers to send out the folder used in advance of the course day one as i wasn't aware just how varied the topics covered were.
Trust me its far more than deer in it.
My closing statement would be.
Do it its very interesting..
Jimmy
I questioned that I thought it would have been a better idea from the organisers to send out the folder used in advance of the course day one as i wasn't aware just how varied the topics covered were.
Trust me its far more than deer in it.
My closing statement would be.
Do it its very interesting..
Jimmy
This is sadly a bit of a case of "the chicken and the egg".
To get the most out of the Deer Management Course it will be useful to have some prior, hands-on, experience of managing a cull plan in an environment with sometimes competing objectives (think forestry, farming, amenity access, etc. alongside the need to control the deer). Getting access to that experience is, of course, one of the reasons why people look to do the course.
Certainly doing the course can help, in that it may help differentiate one candidate from another who simply wants to shoot deer - and in particular one who just want to shoot bucks. Most landowners, farmers and estate managers understand that the key to controlling the deer population lies in managing the females, whereas all too often the recreational stalker's interest may primarily be in shooting bucks.
I would say, however, that no landowner has ever asked me if I have done the course, at least as a pre-condition to taking on a lease.
No point in my opinion putting yourself forward for deer management without being level 2 as well. You will be up against others that have all 3 certificates. All of these are no substitute for experience and good references from current landowners
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
I did the course a couple (it will be longer) of years ago. It is full-on and there is much to learn.
One of the instructors was Dominic Griffiths.
Notwithstanding whether or not the time is right for you just yet, I would recommend Griffiths' book on deer management.
Not only is it a good read, it will stand you in good stead for what the course holds.
One of the instructors was Dominic Griffiths.
Notwithstanding whether or not the time is right for you just yet, I would recommend Griffiths' book on deer management.
Not only is it a good read, it will stand you in good stead for what the course holds.
Was Chris Howard also an instructor on your course? We had Chris and Dave Goffin, as well as Dominic. Dominic was there for perhaps two days in all. I borrowed Chris' rifle for the shooting test, making the rookie mistake of asking him if it was zeroed
I forget his exact reply, but as I recall it would appear as mostly asterisks in a post here 
Dominic's books is good, particularly if you have fallow on your ground (the book was, I think, largely based on his time at Faccombe). I took his example of the Hoffman Pyramid on pages 26-28 and transcribed it into MS Excel. I think I've used it perhaps twice in anger since then
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
Chris and Dave were indeed two of the other instructors.
A couple of my mates did the course some months before me, and I managed to borrow a set of course notes which I read, before the course itself.
This was time well invested, I really enjoyed the week and the exam on the last day was not for the feint of heart...
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
Count yourself lucky!
In my case it was November 2010
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
Tachysensia...
DK.260
Well-Known Member
I also did this course 10 years ago with Chris and Dominic.
For me it was well worth attending as I was needing to get into the weeds about deer management, owing to the governance policies of the estates I am working with.
The course was really useful and worth every penny.
However, IMO like the DMQ 2 it’s about depth of understanding rather than something just to turn up and attend to get a tick in the box. The folks who just want a quick win are not doing themselves any favours.
My advice is to go at your own pace and get some knowledge depth and experience rather than sprinting through the DMQ course portfolio just because you can.
For me it was well worth attending as I was needing to get into the weeds about deer management, owing to the governance policies of the estates I am working with.
The course was really useful and worth every penny.
However, IMO like the DMQ 2 it’s about depth of understanding rather than something just to turn up and attend to get a tick in the box. The folks who just want a quick win are not doing themselves any favours.
My advice is to go at your own pace and get some knowledge depth and experience rather than sprinting through the DMQ course portfolio just because you can.
Thanks for that. I’ll have a look for the book now
Or, as Mrs Gunn would put it, NobloominsensiaTachysensia...
Did mine in 1992, it was called the Advance Deer Stalkers Certificate back then. Richard Prior and Andrew De Nahlik were instructors. The shooting test was done with the newly introduced Brown Bess musket.
Even back then it was totally geared to learning 'how to manage people and the landscape to cope with deer'. Very little to do with actually stalking (it was assumed you knew how to do that). I've used the Hoffmans Pyramid a few times since - mostly to hide behind and confuse land owners
Even back then it was totally geared to learning 'how to manage people and the landscape to cope with deer'. Very little to do with actually stalking (it was assumed you knew how to do that). I've used the Hoffmans Pyramid a few times since - mostly to hide behind and confuse land owners
NickJ
Well-Known Member
I love a ****ing contest so...I was on the first one, Stockbridge Village Hall, April 1988, Prior, De Nahlik, Griffith etc talked and then had to sit the test!Did mine in 1992, it was called the Advance Deer Stalkers Certificate back then. Richard Prior and Andrew De Nahlik were instructors. The shooting test was done with the newly introduced Brown Bess musket.
Even back then it was totally geared to learning 'how to manage people and the landscape to cope with deer'. Very little to do with actually stalking (it was assumed you knew how to do that). I've used the Hoffmans Pyramid a few times since - mostly to hide behind and confuse land owners
I was in my last year at school so Dieter Dent (who organised) it let me be teaboy to earn my keep!
The Hoffman pyramid has, I gather been proven to be outdated...however as Mike says still useful to bamboozle landowners (and foresters!)
I forgot Dieter Dent and Foresters. You win by 2!
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