Introduction

[edlondon]

Hi,

I'm fairly new to shooting. I've been using air rifles for vermin control on a local farm in SE London for a few years and have recently completed the BASC Pre-DSC1 course as an introduction into stalking. I've joined SD for information and opinions on deer stalking in preparation for the DSC1 course I have booked in October.

 

[old 30-06]

Welcome to the site from sunny Sittingbourne in Kent.

 

[edlondon]

Welcome to the site from sunny Sittingbourne in Kent.

Thanks for the welcome. I was pleasantly surprised to see lots of members from SE London and Kent. That gives me confidence that there are in fact opportunities out there, even if I can't seem to secure them.

 

[VSS]

Welcome aboard!

 

[Roedeer 1962]

Welcome from another in Kent , think most of us started with air rifles

 

[edlondon]

What's the most common route into stalking in Greater London and Kent? I've looked online for guided days out and simulated stalks locally but can't find a great deal online in the area. I'm waiting on dates for Cotswold Sporting for a simulated stalk and I've booked my DSC1 for the end of September in Wadhurst. FAC application submitted and now waiting for the interview. I've done the BASC pre-dsc training so I have some exposure to centre fires. I'd be grateful for pointers, tips or advice on how to progress.

 

[dealmitchell]

Hi,

I'm fairly new to shooting. I've been using air rifles for vermin control on a local farm in SE London for a few years and have recently completed the BASC Pre-DSC1 course as an introduction into stalking. I've joined SD for information and opinions on deer stalking in preparation for the DSC1 course I have booked in October.

Welcome! This is a great site with plenty of info. Lots of knowledgeable people to help out. All the best

 

[T.eddie]

Welcome from Essex, take a look in the opportunities section as there will be some guides over the Kent area and those on here are really pretty good

 

[GlennUK]

What's the most common route into stalking in Greater London and Kent? I've looked online for guided days out and simulated stalks locally but can't find a great deal online in the area. I'm waiting on dates for Cotswold Sporting for a simulated stalk and I've booked my DSC1 for the end of September in Wadhurst. FAC application submitted and now waiting for the interview. I've done the BASC pre-dsc training so I have some exposure to centre fires. I'd be grateful for pointers, tips or advice on how to progress.

FWIW i have just completed my DSC1 Sunday if i would give you one bit of advice is get a paper copy unless you happy to study over 400 pages on your pc (the PODF is print protected, but i understand that they can be obtained in paper if requested) . Use the DMQs where you can download sample questions for the various papers in the download section. If you haven't got any ID Guides are available and testing here ID test

If you know someone who can mentor you (another qualified stalker) get some Roe targets and practice a few times

HTH

Glenn

 

[edlondon]

FWIW i have just completed my DSC1 Sunday if i would give you one bit of advice is get a paper copy unless you happy to study over 400 pages on your pc (the PODF is print protected, but i understand that they can be obtained in paper if requested) . Use the DMQs where you can download sample questions for the various papers in the download section. If you haven't got any ID Guides are available and testing here ID test

If you know someone who can mentor you (another qualified stalker) get some Roe targets and practice a few times

HTH

Glenn

Hi Glenn,

That's great advice. I have a simulated stalk booked in with Cotswold Sporting in September and the DSC1 booked in for October so I should be able to get in some good study time and a decent amount of range time before the course.

I'm struggling with permissions at the moment. I have 2 but both are very small stables with around 60 acres of land and I focus mainly on feral pigeons with a UK legal limit .22 air rifle. I've applied for my FAC, 4 weeks ago now so the plan is to try and get some more local permissions that are happy to wait until my FAC is granted and get some good practice in with a .22lr. I have applied for a .243 as well and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[GlennUK]

Hi Glenn,

That's great advice. I have a simulated stalk booked in with Cotswold Sporting in September and the DSC1 booked in for October so I should be able to get in some good study time and a decent amount of range time before the course.

I'm struggling with permissions at the moment. I have 2 but both are very small stables with around 60 acres of land and I focus mainly on feral pigeons with a UK legal limit .22 air rifle. I've applied for my FAC, 4 weeks ago now so the plan is to try and get some more local permissions that are happy to wait until my FAC is granted and get some good practice in with a .22lr. I have applied for a .243 as well and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Something else to add, if you have a set of quad sticks, can make or borrow a set practice using them, it will pay dividends even with a .22 air rifle. WHen i did the pre-dsc1 they lent me a parick of bipod sticks, i found them really difficutl to use, to the point that i struggled to get 2 in the circle at 70m. I made my own quad sticks and even thought their very much cheap and cheerful, they helped immensely. For the DCS1 course the venue lent us a set of Blaser quad sticks, really good imho.

If anyhitng else comes to mind ill post it here, if you think i might be able to answer any Qs feel free to message me. I have little idea about stalking generally, but may be abele to help on the DSC1 front having just finished it.

 

[edlondon]

Thanks Glenn, much appreciated.

 

[jones_440]

Hi, I completed a introduction to firearms course with cotswolds stalking the owner is very nice and informative I learnt so much over the day and shot so many different calibres my confidence and accuracy grew massively and answered all my questions and helped me gain my FAC my local feo was impressed with the right up cotswold stalking gave me he outlined everything i done through the day in regards to safety and different targets etc, well worth a look

 

[edlondon]

Hi Jones_440

Thanks for the message.

I'm trying to give my FEO as little reason as possible to not grant me my FAC or SGC. So far I've completed a Safe Handling and Ownership of a Shotgun course plus 5 lessons for shotgun. I've also completed the Pre-DSC1 BASC course and a firearms Handling and awareness course. I've also got the simulated deer stalk at Cotswold Sporting booked and the DSC1 booked for october. For my FAC I've only asked for FAC air rifle, .22LR and a .243.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[jones_440]

Hi Jones_440

Thanks for the message.

I'm trying to give my FEO as little reason as possible to not grant me my FAC or SGC. So far I've completed a Safe Handling and Ownership of a Shotgun course plus 5 lessons for shotgun. I've also completed the Pre-DSC1 BASC course and a firearms Handling and awareness course. I've also got the simulated deer stalk at Cotswold Sporting booked and the DSC1 booked for october. For my FAC I've only asked for FAC air rifle, .22LR and a .243.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

My firearms officer just wanted to see I had experience and had previous stalking experience as my reason for my .243 was for deer and vermin and .22 was for vermin but I had land down on my licence so was happy to grant as he knew I had a use for what I was asking for, ask them lots of questions but also be confident in what your asking for if that makes sense sure will all be fine. I'm new to it all but learnt so much from others

 

[edlondon]

Welcome to the site from sunny Sittingbourne in Kent.

My firearms officer just wanted to see I had experience and had previous stalking experience as my reason for my .243 was for deer and vermin and .22 was for vermin but I had land down on my licence so was happy to grant as he knew I had a use for what I was asking for, ask them lots of questions but also be confident in what your asking for if that makes sense sure will all be fine. I'm new to it all but learnt so much from others

I'm fairly confident with the .22 as I have a permission on some farm land for pest control which I've been doing with an air rifle for over a year already. Thanks for all the advice. This site has been a great resource already.