I'm i better off with it?

Sercout

Member
unnamed.jpgThis Past weekend my self and and a few friends went thru our DCS1; To be onest was nothing new to me.(going thru a series of hunting tests)
I been Stalking for the best part of 5 year but been hunting for the best of 15, original from Portugal were a exam is compulsory, and you have one chance a year ,
failing is waiting untill next year.
I got my licence in Portugal and that gives you more then the right to hunt but also the understanding of what lives out there.
to my eye is a good thing.
We did the DSC1 with James Scott at JMS Very Professional and relax approach, highly recommended .
My point hes, what is your views on hunting Qualifications ? Should they be compulsory ?
 
No I sincerely hope it never becomes compulsory , as for these so called qualifications I'm not a huge fan apart from someone who has literally never shot a rifle or seen a deer before ,but as I've said before it's a whole industry with people making a good living from it is it's in thier interests to pass it off as worthwhile
 
No I sincerely hope it never becomes compulsory , as for these so called qualifications I'm not a huge fan apart from someone who has literally never shot a rifle or seen a deer before ,but as I've said before it's a whole industry with people making a good living from it is it's in thier interests to pass it off as worthwhile

I am not sure about compulsion but DSC1 & 2 are useful benchmark qualifications to show to others that you have a basic knowledge of wild deer.

atb Tim
 
Don't worry you Thant any one apply for a Firearms certificate then wanders in the country side learning as it goes. Surly we need a base to start with.
 
I am not sure about compulsion but DSC1 & 2 are useful benchmark qualifications to show to others that you have a basic knowledge of wild deer.

atb Tim
Hi Tim I see what your saying but I don't really feel the need to show off to anybody my knowledge or otherwise of wild deer I know what I know and that's that , don't feel the need to show off
atb Jim
 
Don't worry you Thant any one apply for a Firearms certificate then wanders in the country side learning as it goes. Surly we need a base to start with.
such a person could book a few stalks with a pro if no friends are available to show them the way , no need for any qualification
atb Jim
 
No I sincerely hope it never becomes compulsory , as for these so called qualifications I'm not a huge fan apart from someone who has literally never shot a rifle or seen a deer before ,but as I've said before it's a whole industry with people making a good living from it is it's in thier interests to pass it off as worthwhile

I agree. And shame on those from that fraternity who even press, with nods and winks, for it to be made "de facto" an obligatory requirement.
 
Should they be compulsory ?

It's an interesting question, and you can make a good case for 'yes'. I think moving forwards into the future these things are likely to become more common - especially for newcomers into shooting. I can't really see a good argument against it. Obviously no need to have any qualifications for accompanied stalking.

I appreciate not a popular view, but I spend a lot of my time and money studying for qualifications and going on courses to better myself professionally. Doing my level 1 & 2 was the most natural thing in the world if I wanted to shoot deer.

There are many people out there who have been doing this a long time, yet they are doing it wrong. If they at least know what 'best practice' is, they can consciously deviate from it.
 
I'm not judging any one, but i thing just because you ware given a rifle/shotgun do not make you a hunter . and at the moment is a bit like that.
my opinion .
 
Hi Tim I see what your saying but I don't really feel the need to show off to anybody my knowledge or otherwise of wild deer I know what I know and that's that , don't feel the need to show off
atb Jim

Perhaps I should have chosen my words a little more carefully.

It is not a case of having something to brag about, neither DSC1 or 2 makes you a deer expert, but if you are buying stalking by the outing or having discussions with local bureaucrats about deer the paper qualifications are useful.

atb Tim
 
Perhaps I should have chosen my words a little more carefully.

It is not a case of having something to brag about, neither DSC1 or 2 makes you a deer expert, but if you are buying stalking by the outing or having discussions with local bureaucrats about deer the paper qualifications are useful.

atb Tim
I see what you mean but every landowner I've spoke to hasn't a clue what a dsc is so it's pretty pointless in my experiance however by the sounds of it you've experianced different attitudes
atb Jim
 
I would say that there are probably as many if not more going out there and still doing it wrong once they have their DSC1 as those who haven't.
I will eventually do it mind you.Not because I want to,but because we live in a day and age when bits of paper matter more than experience :-|
 
How are they doing it wrong?

If you talk to a lot of older stalkers and mention lymph nodes you get a blank look. There are videos on here by professionals demonstrating awful standards of basic food hygiene. The number of people posting pictures of abnormalities and not considering notifiable diseases where they should (eg TB).
 
If you talk to a lot of older stalkers and mention lymph nodes you get a blank look. There are videos on here by professionals demonstrating awful standards of basic food hygiene. The number of people posting pictures of abnormalities and not considering notifiable diseases where they should (eg TB).
I see what you mean , but in my experiance older stalkers have been pretty clued up about abnormalities etc
 
Thanks Sergio for the kind comments - I'm glad you enjoyed it and thought it worthwhile.

I appreciate given some of the earlier comments on this thread that I'm at risk of being shot down for promoting qualifications purely out of self interest. I do DSC training and assessment because I happen to believe in the system. If I didn't, it would be absolutely obvious to candidates. A part of this is giving something back too - many of us assessors and training providers end up assessing Level 2 portfolios for free. That's not a moan - it's just to point out that it's not all a one way commercialised transaction.

I think it's a great foundation for those who want to learn more and accept that it's not for everyone. I've come across plenty of guys who learned the old way - with a friend who became a mentor. Many of these guys have simply passed on their bad habits to someone new. I've also seen guys with plenty of qualifications who you wouldn't leave to look after your dog, let along go out on your ground. Life is like that - so why would stalking be any different?

At the end of the day, it's for individuals to decide if they want it or feel it will get them something - whether that's the "ticket-collectors", people looking for ground or people who thirst for more knowledge. In Scotland vicarious liability is coming up the agenda - where a landowner can be penalised for the actions of a shooting tenant etc. A part of their due diligence could be ensuring guys are qualified and insured. I'm certainly conscious of a growing awareness of these qualifications amongst landowners.

I think Sergio made a good point about perception. Most central Europeans would be very surprised to learn that we can effectively get a certificate and go. If the wider UK public thought at all about us, they would probably also be surprised. It doesn't matter if it's based on fact or reality, or if they are wrong - how many things happen politically because they are popular rather than "right"? A well supported voluntary system goes a long way to addressing this situation for me.

James
 
I see what you mean , but in my experiance older stalkers have been pretty clued up

Down to the attitude and nature of the individual surely?
Some have a greater desire to increase ability and knowledge through training, some don't?
This is a theme of life in general?
Maybe? :old:
 
Hi James
not about to shoot you down at all mate , you make a well reasoned argument for both sides , as the op suggested earlier very few fac holders are given a cert without any experiance in my experiance from others anyway , that's what the mentoring condition was about in my own case for my first fac I had letters from 2 pro stalkers saying I'd shot with them on numerous occasions plus a couple from local keepers outlining my experiance , the op said having a firearm doesn't make you a hunter but neither do bits if paper
one thing that really really grinds on me is people who've just passed dsc telling me all about how much better they are and what amazing stalkers they are :/

as as you say there's good and bad on both sides but I'd hate to see it made compulsory
atb Jim
 
Down to the attitude and nature of the individual surely?
Some have a greater desire to increase ability and knowledge through training, some don't?
This is a theme of life in general?
Maybe? :old:
Assuming of course it actually increases ability and knowledge ;)
im afraid I'm of the opinion there is no substitute for experiance , but I do see what you mean im
all for increasing knowledge just preferred to learn from respected professionals in the field
atb Jim
 
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