Can we start from the beginning please

[Morgy]

Whereas, I always find the first approach to be a more personal one, telephone the Firearms department and speak to the Firearms Licensing Manager, explain your position and ask him to refer you to the legislation that covers the area of law that requires you to have a Deer carcass handling course before you are permitted to have Deer legal calibres endorsed on your firearm certificate for stalking. If that doesnt work then follow it up with the letter as described, I have done both, they both work.

 

[Grannysmith]

Ask if you can have your application dealt with by a qualified feo explaining that the current one does not understand the subject or job description the tax payer is paying him for.

 

[Jax]

Well that did cross my mind but who am I to argue. He said about smaller animals getting disposed of differently to deer like muck hills etc, I mentioned that out of my group of friends I’m the only one with a lot of skinning and gutting experience and an interest in butchery. I did wonder how some people just put in for a variation for 243 with no previous experience and get it, I have been shooting with a mates 243 also

J

I wouldnt say argue with, but you have every right to question the FLO and put your thoughts/justification across. I once spent the best part of a week questioning why I couldn’t have and justifying why I needed a second 308.

 

[sikamalc]

I see from your intro post that you are in North Yorkshire. There are a number of FEO's who are members of this site and also retired senior Police Officers who I would hope will point you in the right direction via PM.
It may well be that your FEO has been misunderstood, but some do tend to ask rather odd questions with regards to deer stalking being added to your FAC. Again I would advise to contact your FEO via email or letter and ask for an explanation first before launching into a letter to the Chief Constable or your MP. It might well be that his request has come across in the wrong way.
Keep it polite but to the point. My partner Sandra had the same type of questioning when she first applied for an FAC some 11 years back. In general they were more along the lines of being questioned by an AW for Level 2!!
However she was granted the ticket and has now held an open FAC for 5 years.

Good luck, I am sure it will work out OK.

 

[Magnificent 7]

Each and every feo have differing views i when applying for 300 win mag was told I could have it if I did away with the 308 as they weren't to kean on me having 2 30 cals or they could condition the 300 for abroad use only I then spoke with reason stating that my 308 is used for woodland stalking quite a bit and I felt that the 300 was too much gun for that but I would.like to be able to use my 300 on the hill or when the need arise the feo then agreed that it was a valid point and I was granted 300 open

 

[Shabz]

BOOK YOUR DSC LEVEL 1 AFTER A FEW TRIPS OUT WITH A GUIDE

While I would agree that DSC1 is a great thing to do. It’s sod all to do with firearms licensing. I also don’t see why the op would need to spend money on stalking outings when he has deer he can stalk for free. It’s not rocket science. They’re just big rabbits.

 

[Jamie956]

Wow thanks for all that folks, you are a supportive bunch

I have tried but can’t find how to add my location over there <<<<< but anyway I’m in the eastern half of North Yorkshire.

I do need to ring the licensing department anyway because there is a couple of other issues with the ticket so I will mention it but the only way I have found I can get through to them at the moment apart from by email is by ringing 101 and following the options, I’m told due to covid. If I’m honest although I agree with what’s been said, and it shouldn’t matter anyway, I don’t want to upset the apple cart or in any way put myself on thin ice with said FEO.

I am willing to do my DSC1 and I have been brushing up on deer ID and other things but I was thinking more of seeing how it goes first rather than having to do it to get a variation as I am not intending to take people out, not for money anyway, but just to enjoy being able to keep the numbers down on my permissions and as yet I have no deer stalking experience, which is why I’m curious about how a typical day with A guide goes

J

 

[sikamalc]

Having just seen the above post by Shabz I would tend to agree, to a certain extent. The fact that your FEO is asking you to have experience with handling a deer carcass is quite irrelevant to your acquiring a centre fire weapon. However it may be also that his concerns lie with the area you have to stalk on with regards to safety with a larger calibre?
I would contact him and ask for a more indepth explanation of his request first.

If you lived nearer you would be welcome to tag along with me for free. However there are members of the site in your area who I hope may offer some help to you with regards to the gralloch and handling deer.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

While I would agree that DSC1 is a great thing to do. It’s sod all to do with firearms licensing. I also don’t see why the op would need to spend money on stalking outings when he has deer he can stalk for free. It’s not rocket science. They’re just big rabbits.

Not saying you should have to have DSC to have deer added but it has the safety part on it for deer legal calibres. If you get that box ticked it says your safe so shouldn't be an issue on that side of things rather than potentially having no experience and saying I've shot this this and that

 

[Jamie956]

We never got as far as talking about where I would be going stalking, I told him what I had shot with what rifles, including foxing with 243 and target stuff years ago and he just said get some deer experience either with friends or payed guide then ring him in a few months. I didn’t imagine it been an issue really after having open licence last 5 years, guy who did my initial grant offered me upto a 243 but I don’t know if that was a test to see if I’d start jumping up and down in excitement, wish I’d said yes now ha. 204 was just added no problem

So, what’s a usual first time out with a guide entail, il be using his rifle etc so I imagine it will be some shots off sticks etc to see what he makes of me at least?

J

 

[Roebuck9]

I agree with most of what has been said above but your situation to me is how do I gain enough knowledge to be able to satisfy the FEO. that I think is, get a DSC1 manual from one of the testers near you by post. (Google them ).

I do not know the cost of the manual as it is a long time since I took mine. but it will have all the information in it that you will need when you do decide to take it. Read it and you will see it is a mine of information including carcus handling and deseases deer can have and butchery as I recall. Years ago i seem to recall some required you to have a mentor or letter from one which helped you get the FAC updated. As has been said, depends on your postcode.

This will enable you to go back to your FEO and say you have one but need some practical experience to be able to take the test. I do not think he can argue with your commitment and will allow you to have your FAC ammended. Best of luck you do need to argue logically but not agressively with them.

 

[scrumbag]

Well that did cross my mind but who am I to argue.

J

You have every right to argue. You are bound by the law just as your FEO is. You're not a criminal for asking for any of this.

The FEO isn't concerned with handling of the carcass - That's food and hygene standards.

A bit of experience / DSC-1 might not be a bad idea, true. The variation shouldn't be an issue if you have someone is willing to give you written permission to shoot deer where they have the right to do so - by definition that is good reason. I would get the DSC-1 though as potentially useful in future and might help with a reduction in silly conditions that might be imposed.

Scrummy

 

[Roestalker39]

It’s interesting that many here are up in arms about the FEO asking for something like this but don’t bat an eye when an FEO insists ( WRONGLY) that you do dsc1 to get a deer calibre , where in north yorks are you ? Pm me I might have ground not far from you if convenient I’ll take you stalking

 

[JabaliHunter]

If it were me, starting out I would get myself on a DSC1 course. You will learn something, or a lot, and at the end you get a piece of paper to show that you’re a ‘trained hunter’ and a number to attach to any carcasses you might want to sell. Then by all means do some guided stalks and ask to be taken through the gralloch and any procedures you aren’t sure of, including an introduction to your local game dealer too if you like. Won’t do any harm and you’ll more than prove to any FLO that you’re serious and know what you’re about.

Whether you should need to or not is a different matter...

 

[Roestalker39]

You have every right to argue. You are bound by the law just as your FEO is. You're not a criminal for asking for any of this.

The FEO isn't concerned with handling of the carcass - That's food and hygene standards.

A bit of experience / DSC-1 might not be a bad idea, true. The variation shouldn't be an issue if you have someone is willing to give you written permission to shoot deer where they have the right to do so - by definition that is good reason. I would get the DSC-1 though as potentially useful in future and might help with a reduction in silly conditions that might be imposed.

Scrummy

Don’t you have the right to argue against dsc 1 being imposed though it’s against home office guidelines?

 

[jimmy milnes]

I've a few mates in North Yorkshire with firearms licence and I've never heard of them being asked for what you have, are you sure you understood him correctly? One got a 243 conditioned for deer not too many years back an not a mention of anything qualification or otherwise, he'd had a 22RF many years an has more land to shoot over than Prince Charles mind so that could have been taken into consideration.

 

[paul o']

Find a nice man off here to help you on rifle skills and shooting at a deer and while not defending you flo's recommendations and playing the devils advocate I can see why he would say this, he should have said get some carcass hands on as DSC1 do's not give you this silly as it is! once passed you have a green light but some don't have a clue once its dead and your on your own ! when ahh what next sinks in ? I'am 100% someone sure there is a lad or lass nr you that would be willing to teach you the what next , but as we don't know you you may be the best cutter and butcher in the land lol.
best of luck and having good a reason is all you need to obtain a centrefire rifle having AOLQ inc deer or pest is up to the flo , So don't rock the boat just book some time with a Good stalker with a good name i'd say Yorkshire deer never been out with him but only had good reports . +jr@yorkshiredeerstalking.co.uk - Bing

 

[Morgy]

Doesnt time fly? been 10 years come April since I last saw John Robson, Breeze (the dog in photo) had just passed on and he had an all liver coloured dog he was training up

 

[jimmy milnes]

Doesnt time fly? been 10 years come April since I last saw John Robson, Breeze (the dog in photo) had just passed on and he had an all liver coloured dog he was training up

View attachment 186993

Wispa was the the solid bitch matey cause I gave him it when I heard about breeze, just phoned him up an told him he could come pick one out the litter I had on at the time foc,
This is her mum tilly, she's still the most loyal dog I've ever owned..

 

[Morgy]

I just found a photo of my pals son, I took him to Johns for his first roe doe, some years ago now, Ollie went off to become a game keeper

Did john change the dogs name from Wispa?

And Malcolm of course (to the right) had some laughs with him. missed a silver medal head when his phone cranked out the fools and horses theme tune.