DSC1 Do i need it ?

Not a problem, DSC1 is around Easter, so will keep you posted.
Having been working through the text and questions for a few weeks when the chance has arisen.
Has been a worthwhile experience so far, surprising how time dulls the memory though.
Some of it if seems to be a tad basic but good foundations are the base of knowledge.
Every days a school day.
In terms of online learning, I found the BDS online learning very good but actually DSC training marginally better. The mock tests that DSc training had were really good. BDS had none of these
 
In terms of online learning, I found the BDS online learning very good but actually DSC training marginally better. The mock tests that DSc training had were really good. BDS had none of these
Not a problem, DSC1 is around Easter, so will keep you posted.
Having been working through the text and questions for a few weeks when the chance has arisen.
Has been a worthwhile experience so far, surprising how time dulls the memory though.
Some of it if seems to be a tad basic but good foundations are the base of knowledge.
Every days a school day.
Covert and I did the same Wildlife Management course together just a fee years ago! I did the DSC 1 + 2 and did find it a bit basic but its aimed at the complete novice with little to no experience. That said I did enjoy doing
 
Covert and I did the same Wildlife Management course together just a few years ago! I did the DSC 1 + 2 and did find it a bit basic but its aimed at the complete novice with little to no experience. That said I did enjoy doing it and was worth revisiting subjects not thought about for a long time.
 
In terms of online learning, I found the BDS online learning very good but actually DSC training marginally better. The mock tests that DSc training had were really good. BDS had none of these
cheers for that. i do some 12hr night shifts for guns and stuff so it could be a good time to look through them.
 
Covert and I did the same Wildlife Management course together just a fee years ago! I did the DSC 1 + 2 and did find it a bit basic but its aimed at the complete novice with little to no experience. That said I did enjoy doing
just having the DSC 1 should make things easier to get my ticket opened and more stalking opportunities.
ultimately i would like to go out stalking take home what i shoot for me and the dogs.
 
I did the DSC1 several years ago and found it interesting and informative, also at the end of it I could identify the sex and species of all UK deer at any age, something I would wager very few of the people who haven't bothered taking it could do.
In my opinion it equips the novice stalker with almost everything they need to know up to pulling the trigger.
 
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I am 66 next month and sat my DSC1 with Jh1966 in October 2022 and meet some other great guy's .
I did the DSC training on line the knowledge you learn on the course,
Sat on my bum for many years kept telling myself I do not need it .
Now I say go for it took me about about 6 weeks to learn.
 
I honestly dont think you need to do any pre learning or revision for DSC1, even if youve never seen a deer in your life.

Its easy.....
Very easy.....
 
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just having the DSC 1 should make things easier to get my ticket opened and more stalking opportunities.
ultimately i would like to go out stalking take home what i shoot for me and the dogs.

Getting some beating and helping out on a shoot will get you more stalking than a piece of paper.

You can’t expect to just sit a desk test and become a stalker. Get out there and put yourself about. Meet other shooters and invites will come your way.

If you can’t do that, then just skip the paper ticket idea and just buy some stalks with an estate rifle.
 
Rake Aboot Yes I also agree with your comments.
Some of the stalkers we have will teach you as much as any course and with hands on experience.
Both in the stalking and what to look out for and with gralloching deer .
 
I honestly dont think you need to do any pre learning or revision for DSC1, even if youve never seen a deer in your life.

Its easy.....
Very easy.....

Really?

ID of deer?

Shooting Deer seasons?

Not information I was born with.

I had to stuff my face in a book, often, frequently and for extended periods.


Unknown-12.webpUnknown-15.webp
 
In my honest opinion based on having worked in field sports/ wildlife management for over 40 years , education and practical experience complement each other. You need to do both. I had worked in the industry for 8 years before I started a 3year course at Ag college. That was over 30th years ago , it is not just the knowledge but the mindset that allows you to think outside the box.
Neither on there own will suffice.
 
Really?

ID of deer?

Shooting Deer seasons?

Not information I was born with.

I had to stuff my face in a book, often, frequently and for extended periods.


View attachment 288086View attachment 288087
All info that you get during the course.
You could start a dsc1 without having seen a deer in your life and still pass it. It spoon feeds you all the info to pass the test.
That’s what it’s designed for.
 
I would say that DSC1 is not really easy, but is easy compared to overseas tests. I know of and have seen several people fail it. But its certainly nothing like the German test, or for that matter a number of other European countries, such as Holland and Belgium.
In my opinion anyone new coming into the sport should have some basic groundwork knowledge, and Level 1 covers most of this. We are in this field way behind the A ball compared with Europe and the way they handle their game. It also has deep rooted social and economic benefits for rural communities, something that has almost dwindled away in the UK.

DSC1 is not perfect, but its established and here. Many fail to see the benefits of people taking it, and yet once taken often report that they learned a lot. Some don't feel the need to take it. And that's also fine, that's your decision. But frankly its about time we had some basic guide lines for newbies taking up the sport and applying for their FAC, and taking DSC 1 should be a requirement.
 
I would say that DSC1 is not really easy, but is easy compared to overseas tests. I know of and have seen several people fail it. But its certainly nothing like the German test, or for that matter a number of other European countries, such as Holland and Belgium.
In my opinion anyone new coming into the sport should have some basic groundwork knowledge, and Level 1 covers most of this. We are in this field way behind the A ball compared with Europe and the way they handle their game. It also has deep rooted social and economic benefits for rural communities, something that has almost dwindled away in the UK.

DSC1 is not perfect, but its established and here. Many fail to see the benefits of people taking it, and yet once taken often report that they learned a lot. Some don't feel the need to take it. And that's also fine, that's your decision. But frankly its about time we had some basic guide lines for newbies taking up the sport and applying for their FAC, and taking DSC 1 should be a requirement.
I agree with almost all of that , but saying it should be a requirement for taking up stalking is quite frankly ridiculous.
We have enough restrictions on our sport without volunteering for more.

If you want a requirement it should be that you’ve an interest in the sport and are putting effort into getting involved.

To me it sounds the same as saying you need to sit a test to go downhill mountain biking.
 
Really?

ID of deer?

Shooting Deer seasons?

Not information I was born with.

I had to stuff my face in a book, often, frequently and for extended periods.


View attachment 288086View attachment 288087

The seasons was the only thing I really needed to look at, apart from that I think youd retain everything from just the training they give during the course.

The IDing of species was pretty simple.

For me it was like a driving theory test, you should be able to pass a driving theory test just by being exposed to it in general life. As I had taken an interest in deer stalking there wasnt exactly any surprises on the course.

Everything in the exams was covered well enough on the course and the meat hygeine test was below common sense in the answers required.
 
I took a mock test last night and passed it JUST. like you said the hygiene questions were easy. Common sense. Fluffed the season questions. I'll right it on the inside of my false pot.
 
I honestly dont think you need to do any pre learning or revision for DSC1, even if youve never seen a deer in your life.

Its easy.....
Very easy.....
All info that you get during the course.
You could start a dsc1 without having seen a deer in your life and still pass it. It spoon feeds you all the info to pass the test.
That’s what it’s designed for.
Exactly this ^^^^
Provided that you have a moderate level of intelligence, the bit you're most likely to fail is the shooting test.
 
I would say that DSC1 is not really easy, but is easy compared to overseas tests. I know of and have seen several people fail it. But its certainly nothing like the German test, or for that matter a number of other European countries, such as Holland and Belgium.
In my opinion anyone new coming into the sport should have some basic groundwork knowledge, and Level 1 covers most of this. We are in this field way behind the A ball compared with Europe and the way they handle their game. It also has deep rooted social and economic benefits for rural communities, something that has almost dwindled away in the UK.

DSC1 is not perfect, but its established and here. Many fail to see the benefits of people taking it, and yet once taken often report that they learned a lot. Some don't feel the need to take it. And that's also fine, that's your decision. But frankly its about time we had some basic guide lines for newbies taking up the sport and applying for their FAC, and taking DSC 1 should be a requirement.
Morning.
There are basic guide lines out there Malcom the same one's you and I and older members learnt as lads, I would be up far to early on a Sunday morning getting the ferreting kit out the shed and putting in Dad's van then being called in for breakfast then wait what seemed a life time for the van to warm up scrape the windows.... Lesson 1 learn to wait....
Lesson 2 walk quietly up to the warren set the nets in silence and wait...
Lesson 3 sit still and keep quiet...
Lesson 4 dive through the brambles grab the rabbit re set the net...
Lesson 5 despatch it then later clean it out...
Lesson 6 skin it and watch mother joint it up then eat it..

Learn to shoot rats and rabbits with an air rifle with the above then you have your guide lines and basic stalking in a nut shell....
As you said something that has almost dwindled away in the UK.
 
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