Approved Witness preparation.
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NickJ
Well-Known Member
I have been an AW for about six years and, as per the above guys did not do a course, however some fellow BDS Branch Committee members became AWs this year and last and they both attended a course, I can't recall exactly where but in the Borders.
I would suggest emailing them on deermanagementqualifications@gmail.com to ask about the course and see if any other reference sources are valid.
All the best
I would suggest emailing them on deermanagementqualifications@gmail.com to ask about the course and see if any other reference sources are valid.
All the best
When I applied to be an AW about 20 years ago, I phoned DMQ at Wrexham and inquired about being an AW.
The conversation with a very uppity lady whent something like this.
Good morning I am enquiring about becoming an AW.
Do you have any experience
Yes I've been stalking for about 15 years and I can supply references
Do you know an assessor
No sorry I don't.
Then you can't become an AW
Pardon
Then you can't become an AW.
This sounds to me like jobs for the boys.
LONG SILENCE.
I will send you an application form get two of your references to fill it in I'm sure it will go through.
The conversation with a very uppity lady whent something like this.
Good morning I am enquiring about becoming an AW.
Do you have any experience
Yes I've been stalking for about 15 years and I can supply references
Do you know an assessor
No sorry I don't.
Then you can't become an AW
Pardon
Then you can't become an AW.
This sounds to me like jobs for the boys.
LONG SILENCE.
I will send you an application form get two of your references to fill it in I'm sure it will go through.
I've spoken to a few since then
It occurs to me that we could potentially come up with an "apprentice AW" scheme here on SD.
If say, an AW was assessing someone for the DSC2, could an aspiring AW go along, do the witnessing under supervision and get a reference?
Obviously the DSC2 candidate would have to be up for it too, but could that work?
If say, an AW was assessing someone for the DSC2, could an aspiring AW go along, do the witnessing under supervision and get a reference?
Obviously the DSC2 candidate would have to be up for it too, but could that work?
NickJ
Well-Known Member
That would be a good idea, however I fear that since the number of required stalks has dropped from three to one the demand for AWs has obviously reduced significantly so I'm not sure how much DMQ are focusing on recruiting more
Its changed
Now a course/meeting/tax to pay
There is a reason its been diluted to 1 icr
Bottleneck of people wanting to do DSC2
Shortage of active AWs and a lack of interest in people becoming AWs.
Some AWs milking the opportunity to charge for multiple outings to achieve a successful ICR.
Some challenging opinions of (some) AWs from above at Assessor and IV level.
System is broken and needs a revamp
There is also a reason copycat DSC1 style courses are popping up
While it lasts its a good system
Being an AW should be viewed as doing charity work or a nice to have added value element to a paid stalking gig
Offer clients an opportunity to tick a box whilst out
Viewing it as anything else is likely to lead frustration.
Now a course/meeting/tax to pay
There is a reason its been diluted to 1 icr
Bottleneck of people wanting to do DSC2
Shortage of active AWs and a lack of interest in people becoming AWs.
Some AWs milking the opportunity to charge for multiple outings to achieve a successful ICR.
Some challenging opinions of (some) AWs from above at Assessor and IV level.
System is broken and needs a revamp
There is also a reason copycat DSC1 style courses are popping up
While it lasts its a good system
Being an AW should be viewed as doing charity work or a nice to have added value element to a paid stalking gig
Offer clients an opportunity to tick a box whilst out
Viewing it as anything else is likely to lead frustration.
[QUOTE="Edinburgh Rifles, post: 2677322,
Being an AW should be viewed as doing charity work or a nice to have added value element to a paid stalking gig
[/QUOTE]
I suppose that's how I would see it being an amature, people who stalk for a living might obviously differ.
Being an AW should be viewed as doing charity work or a nice to have added value element to a paid stalking gig
[/QUOTE]
I suppose that's how I would see it being an amature, people who stalk for a living might obviously differ.
There may be a geographic element to it, but personally I find it hard to believe there is a shortage of active AW’s.
Anecdotally, I can’t say that the shift to 1 ICR has brought about any real increase in DSC2 candidates either, at least based on the number of inquiries for Witnessed Stalks that are coming in - that’s amongst four AW’s, not just me.
You’re right about the reasons for doing it - it’s an opportunity to put something back into stalking, not to make money.
Very well put.
A system needs to be one that encourages people to pass on skills/experience to others to perform and develop good practices to become efficient, safe, deer controllers with animal welfare at it's core. To handle/process deer to ensure a good, high quality food product is produced.
The removal of Trained Hunter status from DSC1 courses (without the inevitable bolt on Lantra Large Game Handling course to circumvent it) and the reduction to 1 ICR is squarely aimed at getting more people to do DSC2
Certainly more people considering it now.
Becoming an AW isn’t easy
When I wanted to do it I couldn’t get a single local AW to act as referee.
Many use it as a marketing tool to sell stalking.
I almost always witness on the candidates ground. So that posed no threat.
DMQ changed the rules after I challenged the
“Referees should alresdy be in the DMQ system”
I used a DSC2 qualitied candidate and my own DSC2 assessor who I had never met to get around it!!
The Scottish Government made recommendations for the industry to self regulate and bring a large proportion of its user base up the ranks through training several years ago during a review of the sector.
The alternative was regulating the industry.
It should not be left to an independent, non accreditation course to deliver on that promise.
We need more Lantra or similar courses that can be delivered by any accredited institution or trainer/assessor
NickJ
Well-Known Member
I can only speak for us locally, when it was 3 ICRs I used to get 4-5 enquiries a year and I would tend to do 2 or 3 due to time constraints.
Last year it was two which I did both of, this year I only have one lined up to date. The year before last I know two guys who did the course and this year one chap. None have had a single enquiry.
I became an AW as I heard that there was a number of local AWs who never replied to an enquiry.
I don't charge, I'm a recreational stalker and, like you I see it as returning the goodwill I was shown when I set out on my stalking career 34 years ago.
I am the same - two last year, one so far this year.
If a Candidate wants a Witnessed Stalk on top of a booked outing with us on our ground then we charge a £25 admin fee. That has been the fee for probably 25 years!
The most recent witnessing I did was on the Candidate's ground and I charged the same amount, to cover the cost of diesel. It required two outings, as there wasn't the chance of a shot on the first outing. The Candidate now has their DSC2, and thoroughly deserves it, as their work both in the field and in the larder was exemplary.
The Candidate did say that a number of AW's had been approached before me. No idea if they didn't respond, or couldn't help, but having received the Candidate's email in my Inbox I answered by return, and we did the first outing the following weekend, with the second the week after.
I enjoyed the experience of witnessing, which fortunately is most often the case.
If a Candidate wants a Witnessed Stalk on top of a booked outing with us on our ground then we charge a £25 admin fee. That has been the fee for probably 25 years!
The most recent witnessing I did was on the Candidate's ground and I charged the same amount, to cover the cost of diesel. It required two outings, as there wasn't the chance of a shot on the first outing. The Candidate now has their DSC2, and thoroughly deserves it, as their work both in the field and in the larder was exemplary.
The Candidate did say that a number of AW's had been approached before me. No idea if they didn't respond, or couldn't help, but having received the Candidate's email in my Inbox I answered by return, and we did the first outing the following weekend, with the second the week after.
I enjoyed the experience of witnessing, which fortunately is most often the case.
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