Deer stalking is a skill based activity, and whilst the base knowledge can be passed across in few days, it can take many years to really build up the expertise. At DSC2 the assessor s are looking for you to be profficient at the required skills, but not necessarily expert. Most cull records that I've seen or had to record much more relate to species, sex, place shot and deer / carcass condition. What they don't provide is any development of your skill base.
In your DSC 2 portfolio, for each cull you are assessed on four main areas and I think you should focus on building your skills in these areas, and keep appropriate nots to allow to build on these skills. Personally I am not a notes person instead relying on memory and repeated practice. The four areas are:
1) Stalk Deer: - the key skills are very much how you can put yourself to within 100 yards of a deer to allow a safe and successful cull. A lot of the skills are transferable from other fieldsports, but a lot have to be learnt. The first key skill is Basic observation. When ever you are out about learn to look and observe. You can do it anywhere but learn to pick up those small movements - do you naturally see a tree creeper crawling up a tree outside the office, do you see that doe in the corner of the field when you are sitting on the train. Always have binoculars to hand and just spend as much time as you can getting close to wildlife. Learn to move quietly - it is surprising how heavy footed most people are. You don't have to move slowly to move quietly. What you want to be able to do is to see deer before they see you. You then need to be able to tell what they are, and whether or not they are shoot able. Get out and look at deer, but also look at farm animals - try and pick out he old sick animals etc.
2) Cull Deer: - if you are good at 1 above this is quite easy, or should be. You need to be able to put a bullet through the boiler room within minimum of fuss, safely and efficiently. A lot of this skill is rifle handling and all that you learnt in DSC 1 should be 2nd nature. You can study the reactions to shot and you should, but it does take experience to read the signs. Key skill is to take your time, and remember the quickest and most humane way of following up a wounded animal is to give it plenty of time to stiffen up and let the adrenalin fade away. 99% of animals that run will be found dead within 100 to 150 yds at most from where the shot is taken, if you give them 15 to 20 minutes. Follow them up too quickly and spook them, they will be into the next county and little chance of picking them up. Nothing here beats actual culls, but practice at targets, or vermin is all good.
3) Prepare and Inspect dead deer: - there is only so much you can read in the Best Practice Guide. You need to know that, but you have got to just gralloch and prepare a good number of carcasses. There is actually no absolutely correct way, but quite easy to do it wrong. If you follow
Welcome | bestpracticeguides you won't be far off. Key skills here are again observation and knowing what looks correct, and this being able spot abnormalities. You are unlikely to ever see Anthrax, but you should certainly be able to pick that lots of internal bleeding is unusual. And having a sharp knife and being able to use it. You should be able to gralloch a beast in your dinner jacket - some people can, I can't, but you defiantly need to be able to do it cleanly and efficiently and be totally aware of cross contamination.
4) transport and storage of dead deer:- a lot is or should be common sense. You need to be able to get that deer from the place of culling back to storage so that when ends up on the plate you have good quality and safe product. The small deer are somewhat easier than big deer, and none of our deer are as big as say a moose. And the extraction will vary according to species, terrain, equipment available etc. but the basic principles are that deer are heavy and awkward, and some have big spiky things as well. Vehicles are also heavy and on steep slopes tend to roll. Ponies - dangerous at both ends. And backpacks, / roe sacks and lifting deer wreck backs and knees. And meat spoils rapidly at anything over 5 degrees centigrade.
So my advice is with every chance you get try and build up those skills. If going out with a guide, make him let you make the mistakes, that's the only way you will learn. There are plenty of stalkers / guides who take the view that the guests job is just to pull the trigger and for everything else he is just a hindrance. If you are paying for stalks spend your money wisely, but equally ask questions and observe. Every stalker is different and his own ways of doing hints and that is how you learn.
Have fun!
