BASC launches register of competent deer stalkers

[tarponhead]

Hi,
It sounds like you need to join a syndicate and they cost. The BASC scheme is for people with a deer problem to approach them and get the problem sorted by BASC passing on details of local registered stalkers. By your own words you want to be part of the same problem you complain about “ take my gun for a walk from time to time for nothing.”

You are right - I guess “nothing” is a stretch and probably better replaced by “more affordable” which is relative. At least with a syndicate or permissions I would get to wander more and also do whatever is allowed - vermin control, help out with dead falls and storm damage etc. I understand the current arrangements. So I just have to live with it and make the most of it. I’ll keep learning from my favourite guides and get what I can from the sport/hobby.

 

[shortshot]

BASC Register of Competent Deer Stalkers
Required
1.Name

2.BASC Membership Number

3.Phone number

4.Post Code

5.County

6.Email address

7.What qualifications do you hold?

DMQ Deer Stalking Certificate level 1

DMQ Deer Stalking Certificate level 2

DMQ Wild Boar Certificate

DMQ/BDS Deer Management Certificate

Emergency First Aid (minimum of +F)

Manual Handling Certifiate

ATV qualification

Wild Game Meat Hygiene Certificate

Any Other- list below

Doubtless the BDS, Countryside Alliance and GA will offer a similar scheme with suitable Number 2 question. (Always assuming basc one has legs.

 

[ThreeOhEight]

You are right - I guess “nothing” is a stretch and probably better replaced by “more affordable” which is relative. At least with a syndicate or permissions I would get to wander more and also do whatever is allowed - vermin control, help out with dead falls and storm damage etc. I understand the current arrangements. So I just have to live with it and make the most of it. I’ll keep learning from my favourite guides and get what I can from the sport/hobby.

Sounds like my current situation. I can't find a syndicate advertising for places anywhere near me. It doesn't seem to be a question of money.

 

[exmarksman9870]

They will stop anyone without dsc hunting deer... Totally unacceptable

 

[Neddle]

Wise words here, best not ignored

 

[VSS]

Wise words here, best not ignored

Well I wouldnt expect him to like it. It's unlikely to be his course that's made mandatory.
But he does make a few valid points.

 

[EMcC]

Interesting. What proportion of BASC members hold DSC2?

How are you presenting this to the types of landowners you describe?

Or ! what proportion of DSC 2 holders are BASC members ?

 

[EMcC]

@patrickt I was unable to reply to your post or quote from it - and my reply would be the same as above - it's a stand alone scheme run by BASC members for BASC members to offer more opportunities for deer stalking.

I was a member of BASC for a very long time, the time before it became BASC and was never offered any opportunities for Deer stalking other than those offered at a price comparable to any other deer opportunities offered at a price.
I found no advantage to being a member of the BASC.
I have been stalking Roe deer since the fifties and found trainers of Deer courses that only gained their position as trainers from very little actual stalking and classroom courses or people they knew.
I have very little confidence in BASC with anything Deer related to Roe Deer.
In actual fact one of my assessors for my L2 course was one that I introduced to stalking not very long before he became my assessor and I met a few more assessors in the same position.
Yet, with all my experience I was never allowed to become anything other than an Approved witness for L"

 

[EMcC]

Sa

Same here. When I did dsc1, dsc2 didn’t even exist

When I started stalking no qualifications existed. In fact the word Stalking mainly referred to controlling Red deer in Scotland usually among the Gentry.
Down here in Southern England it was referred to as Shooting Deer !! which I did starting from the fifties.
It was only in latter years that I was required to attend, and pay for, courses run by people of a lot less experience than myself, to be able to sell or stalk on new land.

 

[Bowland blades]

A bit off piste but a similar thing was trialled in Northern Ireland between by a certain shooting organisation and Ulster Farmers Union.
They tried to tie up vermin control by having farmers Union members contact the certain organisation when they had an issue with vermin, then the certain organisation recommended their members in that area.
I'd be worried about certain organisations tying up deer stalking

Nail , head , hit it ! Not a fan of this . BTW i have all the quals and the experience but i also know how these things work in reality .

 

[EMcC]

Some might, others won’t. All of them will want their stalkers to have qualifications

All this talk of Qualifications and Papers does my head in.
When I first started Stalking the only thing any farmer asked me was 'Did I have a gun big enough to shoot these bloody Deer'
Firstly I started out with a 12 bore using ssg then as the butcher suggested a one hole carcass is better than the ones I first presented so I progressed to using a rifle, my first FC had a number of 0015 so there weren't many of us rifle owners about then.
The only person that had any interest in Deer at the time was a new man on the scene a certain Richard Prior who wrote a book, even his first book has so many amendments in his subsequent books that he too was on the same learning curve as myself. based purely on experience rather than courses.
I'm not opposed to courses but to make them mandatory just to shoot Deer might be a retrospective step for Deer welfare.
There are certainly more Deer and Firearms holders today than ever before so something has to be done to make sure Deer control is safe.

 

[devon deer stalker]

All this talk of Qualifications and Papers does my head in.
When I first started Stalking the only thing any farmer asked me was 'Did I have a gun big enough to shoot these bloody Deer'

They still require the same even in this day and age, not interested in bits of paper, just shoot the deer, get the job done!

 

[Mike L]

We never used to have seatbelts in cars, we never used to have cars…….. we never used to have the wheel.

 

[T.eddie]

As for as I can see BASC hasn't called for mandatory qualifications. If a member anyone can fill out the form to ask to be added to the list, as you tick what you have got and don't tick any you don't. You also have to type your experience.

So someone who doesn't have any qualifications but has loads of experience can still get on the list as far as I can see.

But I can 100% see why a landowner may want some sort of criteria to help identify a decent person but there's nothing to say they will be someone with the qualifications

 

[Neddle]

Well I wouldnt expect him to like it. It's unlikely to be his course that's made mandatory.
But he does make a few valid points.

Irrespective of who's course it us,should this pass you'll be paying to stalk if,but only after your keep all your accreditation up to date,so you'll paying twice for something you may now be getting for free!

 

[VSS]

As for as I can see BASC hasn't called for mandatory qualifications. If a member anyone can fill out the form to ask to be added to the list, as you tick what you have got and don't tick any you don't. You also have to type your experience.

So someone who doesn't have any qualifications but has loads of experience can still get on the list as far as I can see.

But I can 100% see why a landowner may want some sort of criteria to help identify a decent person but there's nothing to say they will be someone with the qualifications

BASC did put out a little video to clarify and address some of the queries that were being raised. It made it quite clear that DSC2 was an essential requirement, regardless of other experience and qualifications.
It definitely didn't say "DSC2 or equivalent".

 

[.222roebuck]

As for as I can see BASC hasn't called for mandatory qualifications. If a member anyone can fill out the form to ask to be added to the list, as you tick what you have got and don't tick any you don't. You also have to type your experience.

So someone who doesn't have any qualifications but has loads of experience can still get on the list as far as I can see.

But I can 100% see why a landowner may want some sort of criteria to help identify a decent person but there's nothing to say they will be someone with the qualifications

Wrong again

 

[Mike L]

It’s members only so stuff what anyone else thinks

 

[sikamalc]

I have personally hardly ever been asked to show any paperwork for any leases I have held over the years. Except in Scotland, where I was asked if I was on the fit and competent register.
However, I was asked once by a landowner of a small farm in England. He had been asked by his insurer if he had anyone shooting on his land. He replied he had, and the insurer requested to see my insurance and also asked if I had any stalking certificates. The insurer was the NFU.

Its up to the individual if they want to take Level 1 or 2. Nobody is forcing anyone, except maybe the local constabulary. But even there, its some do, some don't. Most European countries require you to take a test. Many are far more extensive and costly, compared to what we have in the UK.
What I do find annoying is all these other tests, that have suddenly sprung up overnight, that claim to be the equivalent of DSC 1 and 2 and are normally charged at a rate well above Level 1 and 2. It would make more sense if 1 and 2 where the approved certificate and qualification across the board, and that on FAC renewal or application the applicant supplied proof that they were insured for public liability.

 

[.222roebuck]

Its up to the individual if they want to take Level 1 or 2. Nobody is forcing anyone, except maybe the local constabulary. But even there, its some do, some don't. Most European countries require you to take a test. Many are far more extensive and costly, compared to what we have in the UK.
What I do find annoying is all these other tests, that have suddenly sprung up overnight, that claim to be the equivalent of DSC 1 and 2 and are normally charged at a rate well above Level 1 and 2. It would make more sense if 1 and 2 where the approved certificate and qualification across the board, and that on FAC renewal or application the applicant supplied proof that they were insured for public liability.

Weren’t we assured that constabularies wouldn’t use it for grants of fac ?