Initial FAC grant when renewing SGC

[Pete_Cambs]

Just looking for a little advice and in honesty people’s thoughts on likely success.

I’m looking to get into deer stalking and have started looking into paid accompanied stalks with a view to doing a couple in the first few months of next year.

I’ve just submitted my SGC renewal so am waiting for an FEO to get in touch but I’m wondering what chance I’d have of being granted a FAC, likely with just a single slot on it if I was to submit now on the justification of getting into stalking?

It would be ideal as would allow me to use the same GP pro forma thus saving money on another one at some point next year and it would also allow me to have the two be co-terminus without (hopefully) loosing to much of the time on the FAC.

I am in Cambridge so come under the Beds, Herts, Cambs tri county licensing department.
I’ll fire an email off to them to ask but wanted to gauge people’s views on it here - hopefully I’ve selected the correct section for the post.

 

[Sampo]

'Saving money' in my view has never worked as a reason. If you have experience handling a rifle, then better state it along with your reason to have a starting chance of being considered. Join a rifle club or go for a few stalks so that you can evidence that you have rifle handling experience. Else if you have permissions or own land where deer management is a requirement, then it becomes a reason for you to have a FAC. Else its better to wait until you have the experience before going for the FAC. You could always ask but chances might be low if you have never handled a rifle or done any stalking or is part of a rifle club as the FEO needs to justify the grant as well. So help them to help you with sufficient reason and evidence which might be best done at a later stage. Others might have a different opinion to me and/ or your situation could be different to what I could make out in your initial post. All the best.

 

[Pete_Cambs]

'Saving money' in my view has never worked as a reason. If you have experience handling a rifle, then better state it along with your reason to have a starting chance of being considered. Join a rifle club or go for a few stalks so that you can evidence that you have rifle handling experience. Else if you have permissions or own land where deer management is a requirement, then it becomes a reason for you to have a FAC. Else its better to wait until you have the experience before going for the FAC. You could always ask but chances might be low if you have never handled a rifle or done any stalking or is part of a rifle club as the FEO needs to justify the grant as well. So help them to help you with sufficient reason and evidence which might be best done at a later stage. Others might have a different opinion to me and/ or your situation could be different to what I could make out in your initial post. All the best.

Thanks for the feedback, I do have some rifle handling experience - I've done a few taster days at various clubs over the years and been a probationary member of a target club many years ago which was sadly cut short due to needing to move house to the other side of London for financial reasons (was renting at the time).

Aside from air rifles which I would assume has no bearing on it I've nothing more than a have a go type day at a local gun club 2 years ago to go on.

I'll be doing the guided days early ext year come what may but again guessing that may well not be seen as justification as it's not happened yet.

 

[Danhfromwales]

Joining a home office approved club was the route I took, there will be a probationary period with said club and it's only when your a full member can you apply for an FAC.

 

[SunnyDays]

The other option would be the Pre-DSC1 and full DSC1 courses.
No need for target shooting and would likely secure an FAC albeit with mentoring Conditions for a considerable time.
Grant time in Herts Beds Cambs will be challenge though, so expect a wait of many, many months!

 

[Pete_Cambs]

The other option would be the Pre-DSC1 and full DSC1 courses.
No need for target shooting and would likely secure an FAC albeit with mentoring Conditions for a considerable time.
Grant time in Herts Beds Cambs will be challenge though, so expect a wait of many, many months!

The grant time is a big part of the reason I want to get moving with it as I know they have dropped off significantly since I applied for my SGC when they were actually pretty good. Does seem they have employed some staff lately as I've had pretty timely responses to emails about my SGC renewal compared to the month plus before I got a response about changing cabinets.

It would seem I'll need to pay for another GP pro forma no matter what I do so no point rushing it this very second, I am looking into guided days next year and have started looking at the pre / DSC1.

 

[Heym SR20]

If you have a shotgun certificate already, you will have already cleared the “fit and proper person” bit.

But with an FAC you do have to justify why you want a rifle, and deer stalking is a perfectly reasonable justification. Don’t put it off, go and book a few days deerstalking, get yourself onto a DSC1 Course etc.

Do it as part of an existing renewal as Co-terminous certificate makes perfect sense and gives you the push that you need from “just thinking about it” to actually doing it.

 

[VSS]

Just looking for a little advice and in honesty people’s thoughts on likely success.

I’m looking to get into deer stalking and have started looking into paid accompanied stalks with a view to doing a couple in the first few months of next year.

I’ve just submitted my SGC renewal so am waiting for an FEO to get in touch but I’m wondering what chance I’d have of being granted a FAC, likely with just a single slot on it if I was to submit now on the justification of getting into stalking?

It would be ideal as would allow me to use the same GP pro forma thus saving money on another one at some point next year and it would also allow me to have the two be co-terminus without (hopefully) loosing to much of the time on the FAC.

I am in Cambridge so come under the Beds, Herts, Cambs tri county licensing department.
I’ll fire an email off to them to ask but wanted to gauge people’s views on it here - hopefully I’ve selected the correct section for the post.

No reason not to apply for it.

 

[Pete_Cambs]

Thanks for all the comments folks.

I’ve emailed my licensing department today explaining the situation and asked for their view, they’ve been reasonable at responding to queries in regards to renewal of my SGC so I am hoping I get a response this week otherwise I’ll likely just take the chance and submit the application.

I’ve also spoken with both BASC and BDS and it seems BDS membership may be a solid option for me. The fact they are a home office registered club seems to help with good reason and they run an online DSC1 course with an assessment pretty local to be at Nuthampstead shooting ground with the next available one being may.

Tried contacting a couple of paid stalk providers, one in the Cotswolds as were there in march for my birthday and Anglia sporting which is closer to home but no responses yet.

Once I have the required post count I’ll also look into placing a wanted advert here.

Thanks all for the advice and mental push needed to get things moving.

 

[rookyshot]

I think your chances are pretty slim at this point of getting a FAC granted. I originally started my initial FAC application in Bedfordshire but moved to Bucks part way through the process and re applied with TVP.

The guidance from Bedfordshire was that if you were not a land owner or permission holder they would want to see evidence of eight to ten paid stalks plus written references from two of the people you’d stalked with and evidence that you had further stalking sessions booked before they would consider granting an FAC.

When I moved to TVP the process became significantly easier as I’d purchased a property with land that held Deer and Fox which my family was farming but even then I need two written references which I was very kindly assisted with by a couple of the members here on the SD who I’d been out Stalking with. Probably not what you want to hear but I would work with your FLO and agree what they are expecting before you apply, especially given the time it takes to get a grant through.

Best of luck with your future application.

 

[Pete_Cambs]

I think your chances are pretty slim at this point of getting a FAC granted. I originally started my initial FAC application in Bedfordshire but moved to Bucks part way through the process and re applied with TVP.

The guidance from Bedfordshire was that if you were not a land owner or permission holder they would want to see evidence of eight to ten paid stalks plus written references from two of the people you’d stalked with and evidence that you had further stalking sessions booked before they would consider granting an FAC.

When I moved to TVP the process became significantly easier as I’d purchased a property with land that held Deer and Fox which my family was farming but even then I need two written references which I was very kindly assisted with by a couple of the members here on the SD who I’d been out Stalking with. Probably not what you want to hear but I would work with your FLO and agree what they are expecting before you apply, especially given the time it takes to get a grant through.

Best of luck with your future application.

Thanks for this, indeed slightly depressing news. Can I ask how long ago this was?

In reality 8-10 paid stalks would take me well over a year as I’d only be able to afford a handful of stalks in a year given other commitments, both time and financial.

I guess I will see what response I get from my email to the licensing team before I do anything else and go from there.

 

[Heym SR20]

Thanks for this, indeed slightly depressing news. Can I ask how long ago this was?

In reality 8-10 paid stalks would take me well over a year as I’d only be able to afford a handful of stalks in a year given other commitments, both time and financial.

I guess I will see what response I get from my email to the licensing team before I do anything else and go from there.

Plenty of deer stalkers with FACs do just a handful of stalks a year - some as little as one or two - and many have several years when they just don’t get out. There is a lady who has handed in her to Mannlicher Shoeneur to a local gunshop after a lifetime of stalking. It was a wedding present and she has taken one or two stags when on holidays in Scotland. These happened most years, but not every year. She still has some of the original ammo it came with. She is in her 80’s and wants to concentrate on her fishing.

When you do get your FAC apply for a 22lr as well. They are an essential tool for learning how to shoot with.

 

[rookyshot]

Thanks for this, indeed slightly depressing news. Can I ask how long ago this was?

In reality 8-10 paid stalks would take me well over a year as I’d only be able to afford a handful of stalks in a year given other commitments, both time and financial.

I guess I will see what response I get from my email to the licensing team before I do anything else and go from there.

That was five years ago as I’m just working through my first renewal.

Remember that you can easily get a couple of stalks in on one day. I used book a morning and evening stalk with a local outfitter and drop home to walk my dogs in between and deal with anything shot in the morning session.

 

[Pete_Cambs]

That was five years ago as I’m just working through my first renewal.

Remember that you can easily get a couple of stalks in on one day. I used book a morning and evening stalk with a local outfitter and drop home to walk my dogs in between and deal with anything shot in the morning session.

Logistically that’s unlikely to work for me unfortunately, if I’m out for the day it’ll have to be for the day so assume would just count as one outing? Guess that’s something to discuss with whoever I find to go on stalks with I guess.

I will chat with the guys in my local country store as I know a couple of the boys that work there are into stalking in a big way so may be able to advise me on anyone who could disguise stalks in my immediate area.

Beyond this I’ll have to see what reply of any I get from the licensing team.

 

[Cloudhopper]

Personally, I'd avoid talking to your licensing team at the moment, I'll doubt they'll be supportive. Join BDS or BASC and speak to them. Then, go out on two or three paid stalks with a couple of different outfitters over the next few months. Choose which one you like the best, get their land details and book two or three outings sometime in the future like November, December 2025, January 2026. Book a DSC1 course for next Autumn. Submit your FAC application around late March. You will have shown interest and serious intent. You will have evidence of bookings (and therefore land to shoot on).

Like you, I held a SGC when I started stalking 16 years ago and the FEO at the time knew I had a strong interest in rifles and hunting. I used the BASC Thetford stalking scheme for virtually all my training including DSC1 and 2 and it worked out well.
CH

 

[royalewithcheese]

The grant time is a big part of the reason I want to get moving with it as I know they have dropped off significantly since I applied for my SGC when they were actually pretty good. Does seem they have employed some staff lately as I've had pretty timely responses to emails about my SGC renewal compared to the month plus before I got a response about changing cabinets.

It would seem I'll need to pay for another GP pro forma no matter what I do so no point rushing it this very second, I am looking into guided days next year and have started looking at the pre / DSC1.

I know of several people waiting over a year for a grant with Beds/Cambs/Herts so it may be worth applying sooner just so you're in the queue!

 

[Pete_Cambs]

I know of several people waiting over a year for a grant with Beds/Cambs/Herts so it may be worth applying sooner just so you're in the queue!

I applied on Monday and sent the licensing team an email with the FAC application reference and the older SGC renewal reference so they can hopefully tie them together.

I've joined the BDS, started my DSC1 with assessment in May and have 2 days guided stalking booked - 1 in March and 1 in April.

my bigger worry now is renewal of my existing SGC as I have an 8 week extension now but apparently Cambs won't issue a further extension so I'm worried about the prospect of having to store 8 shotguns for unknown amount of time and not being able to commit to my game syndicate for next season.

 

[User00056]

my bigger worry now is renewal of my existing SGC as I have an 8 week extension now but apparently Cambs won't issue a further extension so I'm worried about the prospect of having to store 8 shotguns for unknown amount of time and not being able to commit to my game syndicate for next season.

That is NOT your problem. Email to complain about the delay, and demand to know what they intend to do about it.