BASC Wild Boar Course

[timbrayford]

Not a legal requirement, rather 'best practice' from (in this case) BASC.


“Many people believe that there is a law against using anything smaller than .270 on boar, which in fact is not quite the case. The .270 is the minimum ‘recommended’ calibre for boar, not a legal requirement."

But if you merely wounded a boar with a smaller than recommended calibre you could potentially be prosecuted for causing unnecessary suffering, and of course you'd still have the injured animal to follow up and dispatch.

 

[Polar Lynx]

Re. BASC shot placement recommendation. The trend here (Sweden) and with copper bullets is to place the shot in upper shoulder instead of aiming for a lung shot. The reason beeing some copper bullets do not open up properly in soft tissues. Impacting the upper shoulder will drop the boar where it stands while with lung shots boar may be running 60-80 m and go for heavy cover. Makes it difficult in full darkness.

 

[Stalker62]

Re. BASC shot placement recommendation. The trend here (Sweden) and with copper bullets is to place the shot in upper shoulder instead of aiming for a lung shot.

Unless I missed it (always a possibility), there was no mention of non-lead/copper bullets, on the course.

You make an interesting point.

@Polar Lynx

 

[timbrayford]

Unless I missed it (always a possibility), there was no mention of non-lead/copper bullets, on the course.

You make an interesting point.

@Polar Lynx

I don't recall anything about copper placement either

 

[Munchy]

Well now.

Not long back from the course.

Full day of lectures, with slides (really wish I had realised the 'Memory Stick" that BASC sent me, had these slides and data on).

Fun fact. Half of the course were Vets.

Anyhoo.

History, pathology, disease, habitat, breeding, types of hunting, identification - the list was comprehensive.

Then at the end of a long day, the exam/quiz/questions.

View attachment 383267



Section 1

Ten slides of Boar. You must age (young, juvenile, adult) and sex each slide.

View attachment 383264View attachment 383265View attachment 383266

For me, the trickiest part. Some pre-study (ie the stuff BASC sent for printing) would have be useful - although I did read two books on Boar in preparation for this course, but that was about a year ago. Revision, revision, revision!


Section 2

Fifty questions on the entire course contents. Multi-choice (four options) - "C" is always a favourite ...


Section 3

Shooting Test

Couple of things about the shooting test. If there is time, you will/can, complete this on first day of the course.
However, the more candidates (more questions), the more likely the instructors will run out of time.

Also the time of year when you take the course - winter = shorter hours, so you will likely lose the light by the end of the first day, and so be obliged to take the shooing test on the second day.


The target is a (no surprise) life size Boar. There are two 'targets' on this Boar target. The heart/lung target and the brain target.

These are drawn onto the black Boar target in faint white outline. They are not (they were not for me) easy to see.

Matters where not helped by the low setting sun - but that just reflects 'real world' testing.

You can start with a couple/three 'check zero' targets if you wish - then off you go.


100 yards prone off bi-pods, two shots into the heart/lung target.

70 yards off sticks, two shots into the heart/lung target.

20 yards off sticks, two shots into the brain target.



Then the long drive home and wait for the results...



View attachment 383268

Sounds like I sat my course along side you. I was in the first batch of candidates to take the shooting test (in case that helps...)

The identification part is indeed tough, and there's not much opportunity to practice beforehand unless you're really familiar with boar appearance through frequent encounters.

The shooting test I think was a realistic experience too, with the sunlight conditions/ faint targets simulating real-world conditions. It's good they allowed for some 'check zero' shots to get dialled in (I was using an estate rifle), but I quickly realised that shooting at a life-sized MOVING boar target under those conditions would add a lot of pressure!

Still awaiting results, but hope they come back with a pass for you and the rest of the cohort

 

[Jagare]

As Polar lynx said if you shoot them in the heart lung area then they can go a long way and often they squeal very loud as the bolt.
Shooting stationary boar it's best to take a line up the middle of the front leg to a tad over half way up the boars body. That shot will damage the spine and drop them on the spot. Or just shoot them in the ear.
Shooting running boar well is about plenty of practice.
Sounds like it was a good course to take.

 

[Stalker62]

Well the Postman has rammed this into the letterbox this afternoon...



You also get one of these to add to your collection...





It has long been said that I am a 'professional bore' (sic), well now I have the certificate and badge to prove it.

 

[Tazz]

I did after Miffy said he enjoyed it, The bonus was, only three of us were on it at "The Mill"., & OH, Yes, there is a badge and a certificate

You can never have too many Badges, only thing better is a certificate and you get both, I predict high take up

 

[Stalker62]

You can never have too many Badges...

@Tazz

To suggest that a man engages in any course of learning; just in order to gain a badge...is both ill-informed, disingenuous, rude, potential libellous, and almost entirely true...

 

[Tazz]

@Tazz

To suggest that a man engages in any course of learning; just in order to gain a badge...is both ill-informed, disingenuous, rude, potential libellous, and almost entirely true...




View attachment 390893

I am getting light headed just looking at them

 

[Stalker62]

I am getting light headed just looking at them.

OK.

Just for a bit of fun.

Digging out those badges from my 'treasure box', I came across this 'badge'.

I earned it about fifty years ago. Hardest (and smallest) badge I have earned.

What is it for?


Next to an old 3d coin for scale (no shite Sherlock)....

 

[Deerkeeper2]

OK.

Just for a bit of fun.

Digging out those badges from my 'treasure box', I came across this 'badge'.

I earned it about fifty years ago. Hardest (and smallest) badge I have earned.

What is it for?


Next to an old 3d coin for scale (no shite Sherlock)....





View attachment 390900

Lyke Wake Walk.

 

[finnbear270]

Happy memories of the cycling test with the local bobby,

 

[Stalker62]

Lyke Wake Walk.

@Deerkeeper - hope you didn't Google it!

The Lyke Wake Walk is still alive and well, and being walked every year by walkers of all ages and nationalities. It is a 42 mile walk from Scarth Wood Moor, Osmotherley, across the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors, ending on the north sea coast at Ravenscar. The challenge is to complete the full walk within 24 hours.

 

[Deerkeeper2]

@Deerkeeper - hope you didn't Google it!

The Lyke Wake Walk is still alive and well, and being walked every year by walkers of all ages and nationalities. It is a 42 mile walk from Scarth Wood Moor, Osmotherley, across the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors, ending on the north sea coast at Ravenscar. The challenge is to complete the full walk within 24 hours.

Nope, did it getting on for forty years ago with the Scouts.

 

[Jon P]

OK.

Just for a bit of fun.

Digging out those badges from my 'treasure box', I came across this 'badge'.

I earned it about fifty years ago. Hardest (and smallest) badge I have earned.

What is it for?


Next to an old 3d coin for scale (no shite Sherlock)....





View attachment 390900

Magic Circle

 

[Stalker62]

Nope, did it getting on for forty years ago with the Scouts.

@Deerkeeper

I remember doing the first 40 miles with absolute ease.

On the last 'stop', I must have fallen asleep, and had to be woken in order to compete the course. I do not think I ever really 'woke' up, and really struggled for those last two miles.

I just 'locked on' to the heels of the bloke in front of me, and just followed them to the end. It was a nightmare.
I do remember that I was the only 'child' to finish.

Fun fact.

I was eleven when I started the Lyke Wake Walk and twelve when I finished it.
No, it didn't take me a year....I walked 'into' my birthday.

Brutal.

 

[WalkedUp]

My boys are similarly motivated by badges after discovering these. Scotland patches

My five-year-old is very motivated by them and ticking off Wainwrights.

 

[Stalker62]

My boys are similarly motivated by badges after discovering these. Scotland patches

@WalkedUp

Well that just brought back some memories for me.

A lifetime ago, I used to back-pack across Europe, and did so every summer.

Here is that bloody back-pack, just dug out from the garden shed...










Good grief - how embarrassing.

 

[WalkedUp]

My boys will love seeing that. I’ll get some pictures of their bags.