BASC launches register of competent deer stalkers

[devon deer stalker]

Yes, I think that is where it is aimed at to start with. It is early days for the initiative.

In theory this is a good idea, but who will decide who is recommended to the WT/NT etc?

It won't be just DCS2, EFAW+F, 4x4 trained, oh, and don't forget insurance, the '£5k limit on monetary gain' included members insurance has yet to be tested as far as I am aware should an accident happen.

BTW, I hate the word 'initiative'

 

[Rake Aboot]

BASC don’t get to make that decision. But if taking PSC1 made me someone they might recommend over old BS Joe from down the road and I had any interest in shooting pigeons with an air gun (I don’t!) then I’d be enrolled!

This is about exactly that. Get yourself on Basc’s register and they will laud you as competent .
They decide who gets on their register

I honestly can’t believe that people have never been asked for proof of qualifications. Every single piece of land or syndicate I have stalked on (unaccompanied) over the last 30 years has needed to see proof of DSC1 and 2 together with proof of insurance and more recently EFAW+F and annual skills testing.
I can’t see anything wrong with this initiative from BASC. It’s a great service for members and landowners if it takes off.

Not even once.
The land owners were more concerned about whether I could shoot deer.

 

[Shootgun]

The land owners were more concerned about whether I could shoot deer.

Yes, but as soon as they've seen my paperwork, they new i can !

 

[8x57]

In theory this is a good idea, but who will decide who is recommended to the WT/NT etc?

It won't be just DCS2, EFAW+F, 4x4 trained, oh, and don't forget insurance, the '£5k limit on monetary gain' included members insurance has yet to be tested as far as I am aware should an accident happen.

BTW, I hate the word 'initiative'

Could this simply be just a rebranding of the now defunct scheme that was introduced by the Deer Initiative some seven or eight years ago?
After all some of the people involved with the DI (Steve Griffiths for one) have since moved back to BASC.


P.S. With the D.I. scheme there was also a requirement to use factory copper ammunition and to have access to a trained deer dog.
Also note that on a couple of occasions in the past where the NGO have been approached by landowners to assist with the management of deer they have put out a flyer to members of their deer group.

 

[hoodwink]

I think this should work well for the members provided it doesn’t turn into “perks” of the job for Basc, and there friends.

 

[Overlay]

I was trying for 4 years to get on a particular piece of land and finnaly out of the blue i got a phone call from the landowner's agent, saying the owner wants to meet me.

I put togheter a folder with copies of my DSC1 and 2, insurance, EFAW+forestry and a disclaimer, just in case , and the first question was if i hold any qualifications.
Upon presenting the said folder, he signed the permission letter right away and 2 weeks later he introduced me to the next door 2000 acre estate owner, which also signed the permission letter straight away, with rights over deer, game , vermin and fishing.

I think depends a lot of who the landowner is, the farmers don't really care, but the business men they do like a bit of paperwork.

I also stalk FC ground , and used to stalk NT ground as well , and as we all know, you can't get those without the relevant qualifications, so it worth having it.

Been like that a long time, That is pretty well the norm now, all that above plus finished off with your annual review, RAMS, non toxic ammo, annual test, high seat documentated maintenance, cull records, Annual deer forecasts, no quads allowed to save the flowers, some wouldn’t have tracking dogs unless you state it-as a requirement for humane dispatch and finding fallen deer combined with start and finish times - days you can days you can’t stalk

Whatever the new person in charge of the estate / accountants can do to cover his own arse basically
It won’t be getting any less that’s for sure

Nowadays you gotta be in it to win it

 

[willie_gunn]

You have to smile.

If BASC was receiving requests from landowners for recommended stalkers and dishing these out to staff and friends, members here would be full of righteous indignation saying that ordinary BASC members should come first.

BASC devises an initiative to do just that and there are still complaints.

A membership organisation developing initiatives to encourage membership - who’d have thought it!!!

 

[Mickeydredd]

BASC devises an initiative to do just that and there are still complaints.

Not from BASC members.....

 

[Mungo]

I think that it’s fairly clear this is an attempt to set BASC up as a quasi official agency that the major institutional landowners turn to as a default when looking for stalkers,

It is a way to gain credence as a broker, leading to a monopoly over stalking on institutional land.

 

[Ratel]

Well having done and got everything from 1 to AW and having stalked for well over 60 years, I can honestly say that no employer or landowner has ever asked for any qualification. All of them have asked what experience I have had. The only time I have included 1& 2 in my CV was for my latest position but I had already proved to the Farming manager my take on safety. I did this by taking him with me a few times as there had once been a bad shooting accident on the estate and he needed to see that I was totally trustworthy in that aspect. From then on I have only ever made sure that those who assist me are of a superbly safety conscious nature and will stalk in and out if there is the slightest problem. This all said the Estate owner and Agents are happy for me to do my own thing and just send in my written reports

 

[timbrayford]

Did it ask for BASC membership? Was one of the least hassle forms I’ve completed for a while.
Honestly don’t see the issue - there are owners, specifically looking for control rather than sporting, that expect you to have the paperwork - including risk assessments prepared for the ground etc.
If it was your land, these days, wouldn’t you?

NGO have a deer group too, membership is nearly half the cost of BASC!

 

[timbrayford]

I think this should work well for the members provided it doesn’t turn into “perks” of the job for Basc, and there friends.

John Swift at it again?

 

[8x57]

BASC devises an initiative to do just that and there are still complaints.

I wasn't knocking it Willie, I was merely wondering if this may possibly be more of a resurrection than devising a new initiative.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Yes, but as soon as they've seen my paperwork, they new i can !

Not really though.

You can have all the paperwork you like
You have to prove you can do it through your actions.

 

[terrier1]

ordinary BASC members should come first.

Dream on you must have a lot of faith in BASC.
Did they contact you before they announced a voluntary ban on lead. If you think you can trust them sign up for it.

 

[Neddle]

A bit off piste but a similar thing was trialled in Northern Ireland between by a certain shooting organisation and Ulster Farmers Union.
They tried to tie up vermin control by having farmers Union members contact the certain organisation when they had an issue with vermin, then the certain organisation recommended their members in that area.
I'd be worried about certain organisations tying up deer stalking

Just a heads up, various shooting organisations over here are starting to run firearm safety courses also, while I see the wisdom in it I feel it would be wise of us not to close any doors behind us that we can't reopen.
Should relevant constabularies catch on to this it will be another hoop we'll need to jump through at initial application or renewal.

 

[Selous]

Not really though.

You can have all the paperwork you like
You have to prove you can do it through your actions.

Let’s be honest there are lots of folk out there that can talk a good game but can’t actually come up with the goods. There is no guarantee that those without qualifications are up to the job! Perhaps consider this… you are a forester trying to arrange reliable deer management and you don’t know any of the candidates personally. If you are faced with two otherwise equal candidates and one of them has a documented record of professionally recognised qualifications then who are you going to choose?

 

[Overlay]

Just a heads up, various shooting organisations over here are starting to run firearm safety courses also, while I see the wisdom in it I feel it would be wise of us not to close any doors behind us that we can't reopen.
Should relevant constabularies catch on to this it will be another hoop we'll need to jump through at initial application or renewal.

Talking to a guy in Bisley and the latest NRA course for new and established firearms cert holders he was told there is a good chance he may have do that it covers everything from reload, factory loads safety etc etc when his renewal comes up

i’m hoping it’s just heresay but there’s no smoke without a fire
that will put the cat amongst the pigeons big time

 

[Pete6.5]

I will say this as clear as I can. Money is starting to be available in grant form to help with the supposed deer problem. This is not going to be a small amount so watch as all these different groups line them self's up to get their share.

 

[Steve29]

I think that it’s fairly clear this is an attempt to set BASC up as a quasi official agency that the major institutional landowners turn to as a default when looking for stalkers,

It is a way to gain credence as a broker, leading to a monopoly over stalking on institutional land.

Were you one of the people that thought the Covid vaccine carried a tracking device?

Even if this was true, I don’t see the problem with it. BASC becomes a broker, members sign up, landowners get connected to stalkers, everyone wins. What’s the issue?