DSC 2 final interview (?) & advice

[Kjm041]

Completed my final stalk on old DSC 2 scheme i.e 3 stalks versus 1. Everything is submitted now to my assessor and just waiting for the final call. I have been led to understand that these “interviews” are longer and more intense given the new 1 stalk process.

Anyone done one recently? I just want to ensured I’m prepared. Do they focus in on any particular topic. I suspect safety, hygiene and diseases. I’ll do some DSC 1 study to make sure I’m fully up to speed. Obviously feel I know most of this already without being an expert / vet! Admittedly I don’t have all the seasons by heart but suspect they don’t typically ask those questions..?

Anyway I appreciate any thoughts / advice

Thanks

 

[Jamouk]

Following this

 

[willie_gunn]

Have a read of this thread:

Your Dsc 2 experience s how did you find it ?

Good afternoon gentlemen and ladies shortly I will be registering to do dsc level 2 any advice welcome please ? How did the experience go for you ? Was it as expected? Did you find it easier? Or harder been witnessed and assessed? One thing I am trying to get my head round is the lymph nodes ...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

Expect to be heavily quizzed on some basics, such as lymph nodes, as well as on the procedure after the shot.

Most candidates tend to focus on the shooting aspect, whereas the procedure post-shot is just as important but easily neglected.

 

[Kjm041]

Have a read of this thread:

Your Dsc 2 experience s how did you find it ?

Good afternoon gentlemen and ladies shortly I will be registering to do dsc level 2 any advice welcome please ? How did the experience go for you ? Was it as expected? Did you find it easier? Or harder been witnessed and assessed? One thing I am trying to get my head round is the lymph nodes ...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

Expect to be heavily quizzed on some basics, such as lymph nodes, as well as on the procedure after the shot.

Most candidates tend to focus on the shooting aspect, whereas the procedure post-shot is just as important but easily neglected.

Great thanks, appreciate the link to the other thread too

 

[willie_gunn]

Great thanks, appreciate the link to the other thread too

You’re welcome.

The Assessor will also be checking your ICR’s compared to those submitted by your AW’s, so re-familiarise yourself with your ICR’s and be prepared to answer detailed questions about all the PC’s you completed, from how you proved you have a deer-legal rifle through to how you updated details in the cull records and cleaned the larder.

If you didn’t have experience with your three ICR’s of following up on a wounded animal then expect to be questioned on this. What would you do in the event you believed an animal is wounded, what can you tell from different types of reactions to the shot, and the different hair/flesh found at the shot site, what would you do if you realise you need a dog to assist tracking, etc?

Also consider notifiable diseases. Few candidates (and indeed few stalkers) have experience of encountering notifiable diseases, so it is an area that tends to be covered via theory rather than practice.

Above all remember that the Assessor is there to assess you, not to try to find reasons to “fail” you. I know it can be hard, but try not to get paranoid about the call!

 

[JohnSmith]

Wow incredible that you guys have these courses that go so in depth as to talk about diseases.

In Canada most provinces require you to compete a hunter safety course… definitely wasn’t at this level. I did it when I was 12.

 

[willie_gunn]

Wow incredible that you guys have these courses that go so in depth as to talk about diseases.

In Canada most provinces require you to compete a hunter safety course… definitely wasn’t at this level. I did it when I was 12.

These courses are not mandatory like Hunter Education courses - at least not yet - although they do frequently appearing as a condition on some hunting leases.

There are two levels; DSC 1, which is a largely theoretical course designed as an introduction to deer stalking, and DSC2, which is an almost entirely practical-based assessment of the candidates ability to “legally, safely and humanely” cull deer and then process them through the larder.

More details here: DSC2 – Deer Management Qualification

They are not uncontroversial, and there has been - and continues to be - a lot of debate about them!

 

[JohnSmith]

These courses are not mandatory like Hunter Education courses - at least not yet - although they do frequently appearing as a condition on some hunting leases.

There are two levels; DSC 1, which is a largely theoretical course designed as an introduction to deer stalking, and DSC2, which is an almost entirely practical-based assessment of the candidates ability to “legally, safely and humanely” cull deer and then process them through the larder.

More details here: DSC2 – Deer Management Qualification

They are not uncontroversial, and there has been - and continues to be - a lot of debate about them!

Thank you for the information! I’ve spoken to quite a few coworkers who want to get into hunting/stalking but just don’t know how and lack of knowledge and experience seems to be a barrier for people wanting to learn. Availability of these courses would be beneficial in this way, at least from what I’m reading.

Heck, I’d even sign up for a practical hunting course. I can always stand to learn something new.

 

[timbrayford]

If given a hypothetical scenario just use your common sense.

 

[sikamalc]

Your assessor should be looking at all 3 ICR's and after speaking with the AW, comparing the summary of each stalk. They should be asking any manner of questions. From wounded deer scenarios (providing there were none when you did the Level 2) through to lymph node identification and where they are on the deer, to notifiable disease and what action you would take if you thought the deer was infected.
It may also cover larders/prep rooms, if one was not used, and the deer was prepped in the field.

I am sure you will be fine, good luck.

 

[Boosh]

Just reading this is enough to put me off ever wanting to complete DSC2.
I'd hope it is not as daunting as it sounds in real life.
I'm pretty sure I not alone in the world that I don't perform well speaking, being put on the spot to answer any question from across the board.

 

[huntero956]

As my stalks didn’t involve the larder process I was quizzed on hygiene in a larder environment, this included food hygiene, safe temperatures etc. As already stated I was quizzed on the deers reaction to different shot placements and how you can expect the animal to react. He also asked me what the stalker should be looking for before the shot, such as the condition of the animal, safe backstop, clear line of view etc. My phone interview was approximately 30 minutes and the assessor was helpful, it wasn’t an interrogation, if I didn’t quite understand what he meant he explained it in further detail.

Hope this is of some help.

Good luck

 

[willie_gunn]

Just reading this is enough to put me off ever wanting to complete DSC2.
I'd hope it is not as daunting as it sounds in real life.
I'm pretty sure I not alone in the world that I don't perform well speaking, being put on the spot to answer any question from across the board.

It isn’t - or at least shouldn’t - be daunting.

DSC2 is not a test, and the AW is not there to grill the candidate, but rather to observe. What success generally comes down to is the candidate’s experience - with good experience there’s nothing in the witnessed stalks that’s designed in any way to try to catch you out. If you’re not comfortable with anything, tell the AW. And don’t worry about the ICR - no-one is tested on their spelling, grammar, etc.

A good AW should put you at ease and - through separate discussion - identify if there are any areas that need work. That’s why I typically recommend that the candidate should have a chat with a few AW’s, rather than going for the first one called, as the candidate should find an AW that matches their particular needs and expectations.

The Assessor is there to make sure the candidate knows the material, and what to do in those areas that couldn’t be observed. Yes, the candidate needs to be comfortable with things like lymph nodes, what to do in the event that a deer is wounded, etc. but they should really know that anyway. Most, as has been said, is common sense. Again, if there’s anything you’re uncomfortable about, ask the AW.

Threads like this (hopefully) help candidates understand what is expected but, given the right experience, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about.

 

[sikamalc]

Just reading this is enough to put me off ever wanting to complete DSC2.
I'd hope it is not as daunting as it sounds in real life.
I'm pretty sure I not alone in the world that I don't perform well speaking, being put on the spot to answer any question from across the board.

Its not daunting at all. As Willie pointed out a good AW should be there to advise and help before you take your level 2. And an Assessor is not there to catch you out or make you feel daunted in any respect. In fact we want people to successfully pass their Level 2.

There really is no issue at all, and I would echo what Willie has said, in that find an AW who is willing to explain what is involved before you take the ICR. In fact in many cases with myself candidates often ask to undertake a mock Level 2 first to see if I think they are fully up to speed, before embarking on the ICR.
Any good AW should gladly advise and help in this respect.

 

[Dunwaters]

Just reading this is enough to put me off ever wanting to complete DSC2.
I'd hope it is not as daunting as it sounds in real life.
I'm pretty sure I not alone in the world that I don't perform well speaking, being put on the spot to answer any question from across the board.

Its not as daunting as all that, the interview is more of a chat with the Assessor checking that the AW covered all the relevant ICR‘s.
The AW is also being assessed and will have a separate interview.
Best get yer stories straight……

 

[Dan Newcombe]

My experience - you probably know it all anyway but when talking about it, take the whole thing back to very basics.

Stupid things like telling them you checked for a good backstop, took the safety off, reloaded, put the safety back on. I always find that stuff hard because it’s so basic ie. I wouldn’t have taken the shot if I didn’t think it’s safe.

They aren’t there to trip you up, they are there to ensure you have the depth of knowledge required

 

[marrajack]

I did my interview a few weeks back.
I thought it was challenging, but not anything we should not know. I had a big gap between doing stalks and the interview , and struggled to recall my input into the tags, larder records etc
That said once confirmed I passed

Worth doing I thought and now there’s one less excuse to not give me any stalking ha

 

[Dorset Deer]

It isn’t - or at least shouldn’t - be daunting.

DSC2 is not a test, and the AW is not there to grill the candidate, but rather to observe. What success generally comes down to is the candidate’s experience - with good experience there’s nothing in the witnessed stalks that’s designed in any way to try to catch you out. If you’re not comfortable with anything, tell the AW. And don’t worry about the ICR - no-one is tested on their spelling, grammar, etc.

A good AW should put you at ease and - through separate discussion - identify if there are any areas that need work. That’s why I typically recommend that the candidate should have a chat with a few AW’s, rather than going for the first one called, as the candidate should find an AW that matches their particular needs and expectations.

The Assessor is there to make sure the candidate knows the material, and what to do in those areas that couldn’t be observed. Yes, the candidate needs to be comfortable with things like lymph nodes, what to do in the event that a deer is wounded, etc. but they should really know that anyway. Most, as has been said, is common sense. Again, if there’s anything you’re uncomfortable about, ask the AW.

Threads like this (hopefully) help candidates understand what is expected but, given the right experience, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about.

Great Advice Willie_Gun.
I normally say to my candidates, enjoy the stalk and just tell me everything your doing like I know nothing, and that way I believe they are more at ease.