BASC launches register of competent deer stalkers

[big ears]

A short video as follows with a little more on the register. A FAQ is also being prepared.

So just watched this video.
@Conor O'Gorman as a spokesman for BASC I have two questions arrising from this and would welcome honest answers.

1. It states that BASC are regularly asked by landowners for names of deer managers. How many times in the last 12 months has this happened?

2. It states the fantastic insurance that BASC members have. Has the issue of the insurance company not covering anyone making any money from the sale of venison been cleared up?

BE

 

[8x57]

They did once, a banner add

I think that ended because they got rather angry about the amount of abuse and insults they were receiving, a lot of it quite unjustified, from certain site members.

 

[8x57]

2. It states the fantastic insurance that BASC members have. Has the issue of the insurance company not covering anyone making any money from the sale of venison been cleared up?

BE

I don't think you can say ANY money.
I know that there may still be some debate but wasn't the sum of up to £5,000 mentioned so as to separate those covering their costs from commercial enterprise which would require business insurance?

 

[Dan Newcombe]

I’m no fan of registers like this or even of the level 1 / 2 thing but we have to have some way of base lining competence and that’s the only way to do it really.

Driving licenses are similar - doesn’t mean you are a good driver, it just means you passed the test.

I’ve seen plenty of incompetent stalkers with plenty qualification's but I have equally seen plenty without - I can make my own judgement on how good someone actually is at killing deer but as a land manager I need to see some paperwork for due diligence / insurance and VL etc.

I’m also not sure how the register works and how they choose who gets put forward, I’m not even just sure how many land owners will approach BASC to recommend a deer manager so in my mind it’s a list that won’t actually get you very far - happy to be proved wrong though.

 

[Overlay]

I think that ended because they got rather angry about the amount of abuse and insults they were receiving, a lot of it quite unjustified, from certain site members.

Yep
I wouldn’t think anyone would mind receiving complaints it’s all a learning curve to progression but some on here took and take that to a different level to be honest as some other threads

some of the problem is the “ I’m alright jack” syndrome with no thought for the future of field sports or the next generation.just me me me
we are in a different game now compared to say 20 years ago and all shooting is at risk - period,

some people cannot see the wood through the trees and when it goes to untenable for stalkers some will go and get a set of golf clubs instead, so everyone Has lost out

there hasn’t been a more crucial time to muster up and support any club, institution company whoever is on the side of country pursuits and fighting for its survival

lemmings and a cliff top comes to mind often - which is and will be a great shame for future sportsman and sportswomen including my son and grandson

 

[sikamalc]

BDS is on the viewable list of trade members, but BASC is not.

Yes we know.

 

[devon deer stalker]

I think that ended because they got rather angry about the amount of abuse and insults they were receiving, a lot of it quite unjustified, from certain site members.

I can understand that, but there is the rub, like myself and others on here we pay for trade membership, if we don't it isn't long before a pm arrives from admin telling us to take out trade membership.
I'm not getting into the justified/unjustified discussion, they should have a trade membership and pay for it, maybe it's just a simple case of changing his 'supporter' badge to 'trade'?

 

[Neddle]

We’ll I guess everyone else was lying to me then , but as I say there’s zero requirement for Dsc to get an fac and any force trying to implement it should be shown the guidelines

RUC/PSNI have been asking for it for years though its not a legal requirement

 

[David Barker]

I do believe that if the person submitting doesn't have their trained hunter certification they would also have to bring the gralloch to be checked in order for it to be legal

I am sure its just the lights but i might be wrong i will try and find out

 

[VSS]

I am sure its just the lights but i might be wrong i will try and find out

Page 87, "Deer: Law & Liabilities", 2nd edition, Parkes & Thornley.

 

[shortshot]

The rub will occur if the FC and NE (who will be the link between woodland grant scheme recipients and deer control operatives) are seen to list exclusively BASC insured stalkers.)
It’s a good initiative because new plantings in isolated pockets will need new cost effective protection otherwise the grant monies are being wasted. The desk based civil servants allocating the funds need to tick insurance and stalker certification/competence as due diligence and not BASC membership and stalker certification.

 

[StephenToast]

Why haven't the BDS, NGO etc done this and what's to stop them doing it now?

 

[VSS]

Why haven't the BDS, NGO etc done this and what's to stop them doing it now?

Another way of looking at that would be:
BDS is currently on a bit of a drive position itself as the "go to" resource for all things deer in the UK, and BASC, afraid of losing its share of the influence, retaliates by launching this initiative.
It would have made more sense to me if it had been the BDS compiling such a register, but I guess they were just a bit slow off the mark.

 

[8x57]

Why haven't the BDS, NGO etc done this and what's to stop them doing it now?

The deer branch of the NGO have done something similar but in a quite different way.
When they have received requests in the past they have sent out an email to their members.

 

[Shabz]

This is a fantastic idea. Scottish Forestry spends millions every year on deer fencing woodland creation areas that have populations of deer that could easily be controlled by rifle at a huge saving. The problem is usually that the stalker and the site are geographically separate. If this scheme can put a stalker who lives within five miles or so (easily doable in most of the central belt) in touch with the land owner/manager then they can be ever present. Take your rifle with you while you walk the dog every night. This is what Scottish lowlands has needed for years. Hopefully it will get rid of the absentee tenants from the south of England who have no interest in controlling numbers or damage to biodiversity. Bit disappointed that NatureScot didn’t think of it since they’re already halfway there.

 

[Rusty Gate]

The BASC register of competent deer stalkers is an initiative which seeks to open up deer management opportunities for BASC members.

Click the link below for more details, and to apply to be added to the register

BASC launches register of competent deer stalkers

The BASC register of competent deer stalkers is a new initiative which seeks to open up deer management opportunities for BASC members.

basc.org.uk

Close Deer Management down in favour of its members

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

So just watched this video.
@Conor O'Gorman as a spokesman for BASC I have two questions arrising from this and would welcome honest answers.

1. It states that BASC are regularly asked by landowners for names of deer managers. How many times in the last 12 months has this happened?

2. It states the fantastic insurance that BASC members have. Has the issue of the insurance company not covering anyone making any money from the sale of venison been cleared up?

BE

Hope the following helps:

1. It states that BASC are regularly asked by landowners for names of deer managers. How many times in the last 12 months has this happened?

It's not something that we’ve kept a record of but at least 12 separate enquiries including 3 large institutional landowners and the rest foresters and private landowners. So at least 1 a month.

2. It states the fantastic insurance that BASC members have. Has the issue of the insurance company not covering anyone making any money from the sale of venison been cleared up?

Here is the relevant text from our insurance advice on BASC website:

The BASC policy only covers recreational activities, however, we recognise that some members will take a small payment in cash or in kind as a result of their recreational activity. In most cases this payment, such as it is, will barely cover expenses; never the less it’s important that members are clear on when the BASC policy will protect them and when or if they need additional cover. Indemnity under the BASC members policy includes the activities of members engaging in recreational shooting activities who make a commercial gain from the sale of meat or other small income derived from such recreational shooting activities, provided this is not their primary source of income.

However, if you are formally engaged by a commercial shoot to attend on specific days to undertake a specific task such as beating, picking up or loading, then you will be employed by the shoot and covered under the shoots Employer Liability cover.

If you hire yourself out as a loader, coach, pest controller , stalker/ deer manager etc, you will need additional cover for this commercial activity; see here. A professional shooters policy brokered by Aim Risk Services and Underwritten by Sportscover Europe Limited

BASC member insurance

BASC membership comes with insurance you can rely on.

basc.org.uk

 

[Hayduke]

This is a fantastic idea. Scottish Forestry spends millions every year on deer fencing woodland creation areas that have populations of deer that could easily be controlled by rifle at a huge saving. The problem is usually that the stalker and the site are geographically separate. If this scheme can put a stalker who lives within five miles or so (easily doable in most of the central belt) in touch with the land owner/manager then they can be ever present. Take your rifle with you while you walk the dog every night. This is what Scottish lowlands has needed for years. Hopefully it will get rid of the absentee tenants from the south of England who have no interest in controlling numbers or damage to biodiversity. Bit disappointed that NatureScot didn’t think of it since they’re already halfway there.

Hilarious! “Hopefully” oh those damn English southerners! Will go!

What about the neighbours who don’t want to cull their deer?

In theory if you kill all the deer you get the trees away. In reality this is extremely hard to achieve. NT at Mar Lodge spent about £4 million over 25 years on deer culling to achieve low levels of tree regeneration, far higher levels of tree establishment would have been achieved with a fence at half the price.

Not saying either way is right or wrong, but you will protect public investment in trees more securely with a fence.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

I can understand that, but there is the rub, like myself and others on here we pay for trade membership, if we don't it isn't long before a pm arrives from admin telling us to take out trade membership.
I'm not getting into the justified/unjustified discussion, they should have a trade membership and pay for it, maybe it's just a simple case of changing his 'supporter' badge to 'trade'?

BASC has a trade account where we post updates on events etc. Peterm

 

[devon deer stalker]

BASC has a trade account where we post updates on events etc. Peterm

Thanks for clarification, it would of avoided any confusion if @Peterm had created these threads.