DSC1 Do i need it ?

[timbrayford]

Got my 243 open ticket a few years ago still not shot a deer. Completed my DSC1 last day of October 2022 and I will be 66yrs old in March .
Thought after many years just go for it and i passed on my first attempt.
As you stated time is tight you can do a assessment only and do your test in a day or two.
But go on DSC training for three months prior to test and do lots of target practice you can buy the target for about seven quid and make copies (this was the hardest test of the five )

Good luck

Bill

The DSC1 zeroing target can be copied free from DMQ, the BDS sell the deer silhouettes, can't remember the cost

 

[timbrayford]

I've since done a paid stalk and, whilst we came away empty handed, he did say next time if we get one he will show me that.

That's great but loads of hands on experience is better still

 

[moxon508]

I live on a shoot and the keeper is a mate. I'll ask him to give me a call the next time he shoots one. We're meant to be doing a swop. A deer for one of my lambs.

 

[VSS]

Will I need an open ticket to go stalking.

No, but if your FAC is not open then the land that you're stalking on will need to be cleared for the calibre that you're using.
Or you can stalk with someone else and use their rifle (and abide by their conditions).

 

[Jh1986]

That's great but loads of hands on experience is better still

I said show, but what he actually said was he'd guide me through it as best way to learn was doing it myself.

 

[bottletopbill]

Jh1986 happy new year are you on the whats app as who did you go out with.

Bill

 

[Foxyboy43]

In short - no practical experience and/or no qualification = no fac for deer for sure or maybe…..

 

[3595wilk]

I was granted .243 for fox and AOLQ by TVP...so use it also for CWD, Roe and Munty on accompanied stalks; and have also been out with a nice Chap on here on his permissions. I have a closed ticket.

The land I acquired it for was cleared for up to .243 and I got it without any other requirements from TVP.

Good reason clearly the rationale here and nowt to do with qualifications....

Out of choice though I will be doing my DSC1.

 

[Jh1986]

I have no land, DSC1 only. Applied for fac on the basis of paid stalking. No idea what cert I'll get but, whilst I could use estate rifles, I have found with my eyes, I'd be much safer with a rifle I can tailor to my eyesight. Some scopes I just struggle with and there's no telling what estate rifle you'll get

 

[moxon508]

No, but if your FAC is not open then the land that you're stalking on will need to be cleared for the calibre that you're using.
Or you can stalk with someone else and use their rifle (and abide by their conditions).

I get the impression that if I'm wanting to stalk at different places then I'm going to need an open ticket. I may need to do the dsc1 to justify it to the firearms licensing.

 

[VSS]

I get the impression that if I'm wanting to stalk at different places then I'm going to need an open ticket. I may need to do the dsc1 to justify it to the firearms licensing.

Generally some experience is required before they'll consider opening your ticket, but having said that it's not unheard of for a FAC to be open at first grant. I should say that most people start off with a closed ticket, and then request that it be opened after a year or so. But everyone's situation is different: Some folk don't get their FAC opened until renewal. Mine was opened on request after 1 year. My daughter's was open at first grant (she was 14 at the time).
Basically, if you need an open ticket to be able to do what you want to do then ask for it.

 

[timbrayford]

I said show, but what he actually said was he'd guide me through it as best way to learn was doing it myself.

Absolutely, the more frequently the better!

 

[timbrayford]

I get the impression that if I'm wanting to stalk at different places then I'm going to need an open ticket. I may need to do the dsc1 to justify it to the firearms licensing.

Good luck with that one, I got into an horrendous argument with Hants FLD over that one, when I got DSC 2 they started to see sense!

 

[bottletopbill]

Took my mate out over a few months and showed him all the foot paths and where any houses where and the safe back drops .
He only had 22lr for club shooting so I had to say that i had mentored him and sign a letter stating this for the Met police.
He got 6.5 and a open ticket at the same time.

 

[Tim.243]

I'm new to stalking. Do you need to have done your dsc1 before you can go stalking. I'm not new to shooting and I process my own sheep, I'm sure there is still a lot on the course for me to learn but do I need it. To do the course I would need to wait till there is one I could drive to each day as I have a pack of dogs and other animals to look after. Cheers

Welcome from Essex

As you will know with your sheep there are a lot of other animals put into the food chain every day, from the wild side rabbits hares, pigeons, ducks, pheasant's, grouse, partridges. Read through SD and you will see a lots of people who join have never shot or handled the above (never shot a grouse myself ) My point is that list you don't need to do a course for to satisfy any FAC requirements including foxes..
I did mine out of curiosity from doing lots of dive exams and practical demos it had me wondering what it would be like.
Paul Adkins nailed the presentation with a number of people missing the targets lol

 

[Bowland blades]

The law requires "Good Reason" not "Qualifications"

I am not taking law i am talking police guidelines from the home office , its been in a while but its " guidence " to police not " you must do this " and its very common across the uk .
One of the biggest issues in licensing is not all forces do things the same its a lottery on which you come under .
I am in Lancashire i have only ever been in dispute with them once and thats all done / over-with and solved and was the work of one man on their team.
Different forces operate under the same guidance but have their own take on it . For instace i live on the lancashire and North Yorkshire border almost . North Yorkshire give all FAC holders open terms from grant and i am told they dont even do these silly land inspections for those that hunt .
The Level of BS stupid statements and conditions handed out i read of on forums like this by various forces cannot demonstrate the disparage in forces more
There is much that needs changing for the better , though past history of government and Police means it will become a monumental screw -up of confusion and disparage and cost us a lot more money than it ever should .
Why should we even renew ? Lets be fair if someone gets involved in Crime or Violence , drik driving and you will get the firearms team around to revoke
Simple PNC check lets any copper know your full list of firearms and where they are held and they can do this in the vehicle or on hand held

 

[moxon508]

I need to have another look at my licence then. I live in West Yorkshire but North Yorkshire did my licence because I'm on the border.

 

[gonzo]

I did the DSC1 over a weekend. As I was new to stalking, I found it useful and interesting.
However, surprisingly my FLD/FEO (Dorset) was not interested in the DSC at all, as far as getting my FAC varied for deer. All they wanted was ritten authority to shoot over land.

 

[timbrayford]

I have no land, DSC1 only. Applied for fac on the basis of paid stalking. No idea what cert I'll get but, whilst I could use estate rifles, I have found with my eyes, I'd be much safer with a rifle I can tailor to my eyesight. Some scopes I just struggle with and there's no telling what estate rifle you'll get

I am not taking law i am talking police guidelines from the home office , its been in a while but its " guidence " to police not " you must do this " and its very common across the uk .
One of the biggest issues in licensing is not all forces do things the same its a lottery on which you come under .
I am in Lancashire i have only ever been in dispute with them once and thats all done / over-with and solved and was the work of one man on their team.
Different forces operate under the same guidance but have their own take on it . For instace i live on the lancashire and North Yorkshire border almost . North Yorkshire give all FAC holders open terms from grant and i am told they dont even do these silly land inspections for those that hunt .
The Level of BS stupid statements and conditions handed out i read of on forums like this by various forces cannot demonstrate the disparage in forces more
There is much that needs changing for the better , though past history of government and Police means it will become a monumental screw -up of confusion and disparage and cost us a lot more money than it ever should .
Why should we even renew ? Lets be fair if someone gets involved in Crime or Violence , drik driving and you will get the firearms team around to revoke
Simple PNC check lets any copper know your full list of firearms and where they are held and they can do this in the vehicle or on hand held

HO guidance is just that, when push comes to shove both plod and the HO have to comply with the law that parliament enacted , not what they'd have preferred it to say

 

[Bowland blades]

HO guidance is just that, when push comes to shove both plod and the HO have to comply with the law that parliament enacted , not what they'd have preferred it to say

if you read guidance to police around the granting of larger calibre rifles such as those used for deer control it does actually mention training or past experience . It is here some forces are coming from when they ask for a mentor period or DSC1 etc .
Ultimately like it or not , different forces take different stances and they can do . The changes coming to the system might very well be clearer nationwide but i doubt from my past experience of changes they will be better for the average applicant . I know guys who have been selling off their safari big game rifles in fear of not being able to support their "good reason" robustly
I dont agree with it personally ! However i have lived through the changes made in the past and so far only the de-classifying on bullets has been the good bit .
There is also a part of me that would like to see compulsory training being brought in for all new FAC grants . Based purely on the poor standards of safety and knowledge the minority . Heck most of the USA hunter Ed and gun safety are essential and for good reason
NOTE - I say upon new grants ! not Before new grants ! If licensing get to say " you haven't the experience or training to grant "
Change though is inevitable