Approved witness payment

sikamalc

Administrator
Well Gentlemen and Ladies,
Just had an Email from DMQ regarding Approved witnesses and meetings.
Payment required to remain is £64.99. Or pay monthly.
As I am now officially a pensioner I'm not paying for something I don't charge for.

So I'm out. I have a feeling they will loose a fair few good AWs.
I've already cancelled 3 candidates.
Good luck to anyone trying to take it.
 
I have contacted the 3 candidates booked to go out later this year with me.
All of them still want to stay booked. One can't find anyone to take him as every one has bailed out!
 
How does it work Malc, surely AW's aren't expected to go out with someone and not receive a penny in return?

Now I have my FAC back I'm hoping to build up experience as quickly as possible in order to proceed with DSC2.

Without going out with a more experienced stalker at least periodically one cannot possibly hope to gain more experience the right way.

There's no point in building up experience if it's all done using less than preferable approach(s).

Going out with a more experienced stalker, I would wholly expect to pay them for their time.

If I take a guided stalk I wouldn't receive let alone expect for nothing, why ever should AW's be any different?
 
Just spoke to a close friend who has stalked all over the UK with me over 25 years.
He's out too.
As for finding an AW I'm sure some younger ones will hang on for the kudos. But I'm finished with it.
 
Just spoke to a close friend who has stalked all over the UK with me over 25 years.
He's out too.
As for finding an AW I'm sure some younger ones will hang on for the kudos. But I'm finished with it.
You just posted exactly what I was thinking!

I know of at least 2 AW’s who have said nope 👎 their not Paying
 
I too quit a few years ago. Done a very good lad, who I had never met before, but was a pal of a pal so I did it as a favour for said pal. The lad was good, very knowledgable, Had been stalking for several years. Filled in the paperwork, he filled in his, and as far as I was concerned, that was that.
But no, The So called examiner, phoned me 2 or 3 weeks later, Sunday afternoon, I was in my garden shed and for the next 2 hours put me through the most gruelling examination I have ever experienced. He would not believe I had done the witnessing for no payment. He wouldn't believe that one of the beasts shot was a buck out of season, limping really badly from a broken front leg. In fact everything in my statement he made clear (in a very pretensious English accent) That I was lying. I told him that I had the impression that this was out of a "John Le Carrie" novel and he could stick his opinions where the sun don't shine.
Consequently, the following morning I contacted DMQ and resigned.
Over the years, I've known of at least 10 AWs that have quit, all top of the range men. So it begs to differ, what type and quality are they using now and is it all for the money at the end of the day.
Regards
Alan
 
Dosnt surprise me Alan,
Like I said, I wouldn't mind betting that the vast majority of Assessors and Verifiers have not done anywhere near the amount of deer stalking that many Aw,s have.
 
That’s a shame that DMQ have decided to go that route and insist on charging people for their good will.

I had been hoping to do my DSC2 soon but this just makes it even more ridiculous. I fear they have weakened it so much by making it 1/3 the carcass count and now risks getting AWs more interested in something they can charge for rather than doing it for the love of sharing their knowledge and experience
 
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That’s a shame that BDS have decided to go that route and insist on charging people for their good will.

I had been hoping to do my DSC2 soon but this just makes it even more ridiculous. I fear they have weakened it so much by making it 1/3 the carcass count and now risks getting AWs more interested in something they can charge for rather than doing it for the love of sharing their knowledge and experience
It's not BDS.
It's DMQ.
DMQ is a separate entity that runs the DSC courses, although the DMQ board does include representatives from BASC, BDS, etc.
 
That’s a shame that BDS have decided to go that route and insist on charging people for their good will.

I had been hoping to do my DSC2 soon but this just makes it even more ridiculous. I fear they have weakened it so much by making it 1/3 the carcass count and now risks getting AWs more interested in something they can charge for rather than doing it for the love of sharing their knowledge and experience

Not BDS, DMQ... they share the same address as BASC.
 
Sad really but up here the emphasis is on lev one and Lev two is not mentioned much. I left soon as i got the email months ago. I feel that the few that have paid to stay will charge a fortune. Supply and demand will give them that opertunity. I do feel that DMQ 2 Will now fall on its own sword .
 
Hmm.
I always thought that stalking qualifications were really “cash cows” for the various “organisations” - interesting to see this latest development.
As a matter of interest how much would a tradesman charge for the time that an AW devotes to each assessment?
🦊🦊
 
I have contacted the 3 candidates booked to go out later this year with me.
All of them still want to stay booked. One can't find anyone to take him as every one has bailed out!

Malc
I know very little on this subject - but could the people you have booked in not just pay a surcharge for it ?
10 quid each and you are nearly there and you keep the chaps happy and share your knowledge and experience - or am i sort of over simplyfying it - is it just the case you feel you should not have to pay - a principle issue more than anything ?
 
that says it all really
Well no, it doesn't really.
The voices of those representatives are probably lost among the noise of many others. And if changes are voted on, then it goes with the majority view, not the few.
Look up DMQ at Companies House. There's an awful lot of people listed as company directors who I wouldn't mind betting are nothing to do with deer and stalking, and nothing to do with BASC or BDS either.
 
Hmm.
I always thought that stalking qualifications were really “cash cows” for the various “organisations” - interesting to see this latest development.
As a matter of interest how much would a tradesman charge for the time that an AW devotes to each assessment?
🦊🦊
I did 6 outings with a guy once, that was for 1 deer, I did it for nothing, didn’t even charge fuel for anyone I witnessed.

The principal sum of a good brew and a fry up was agreed in most cases.
 
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