DSc 2 - Witnessed stalks - Advise please

[Pointer]

Have you contacted your level two assessor about this??
You say you were happy with the AW and tipped him............why?

I tipped the AW as I tip all stalkers I go out with, I believe it is the right thing to do. This is not about a grudge I have with the AW it is about the suppliers failure.

At the time I was of the opinion that I must have misunderstood the rules and so trusted the judgement of the AW ( I did refer to the guidance on the portfolio, but this made no difference). I did try and look up the issue on my phone but could not get a signal where I was. It has been with the help of SD that I have gained a clearer picture of the DMQ Guidance and it was based on the advise of other AWs (principally via PMs) that I decided to raise the issue and so contacted the Supplier/AW.

 

[Apache]

What did they offer you?

A promise of 3 deer or some guided stalking?

 

[2130martin]

I tipped the AW as I tip all stalkers I go out with, I believe it is the right thing to do. This is not about a grudge I have with the AW it is about the suppliers failure.

At the time I was of the opinion that I must have misunderstood the rules and so trusted the judgement of the AW ( I did refer to the guidance on the portfolio, but this made no difference). I did try and look up the issue on my phone but could not get a signal where I was. It has been with the help of SD that I have gained a clearer picture of the DMQ Guidance and it was based on the advise of other AWs (principally via PMs) that I decided to raise the issue and so contacted the Supplier/AW.

It is my understanding that only individuals can be AW's not a collective body ie a business etc so your issue is with the AW,isn't it?

 

[Pointer]

What did they offer you?

A promise of 3 deer or some guided stalking?

What was offered is irrelevant, the AW failed to comply with DMQ Guidance. If a candidate does that on a ICR he/ she is often instructed by the Assessor to do another stalk and resubmit their portfolio. Why is it fair that a candidate has to pay out extra (stalk/s) for the failure to undertake a stalk in accordance with the guidance when the AW does not pay out when they fail to comply with the same guidance?

 

[Apache]

What was offered is irrelevant, the AW failed to comply with DMQ Guidance. If a candidate does that on a ICR he/ she is often instructed by the Assessor to do another stalk and resubmit their portfolio. Why is it fair that a candidate has to pay out extra (stalk/s) for the failure to undertake a stalk in accordance with the guidance when the AW does not pay out when they fail to comply with the same guidance?

What planet are you on? Have you read your portfolio? Do you know what the individual points require of you?

I copied the first four out for you in an earlier post:

1.1 Carry out work safely in line with health and safety requirements.
Safe working practices demonstrated.
Suitable clothing worn.
Appropriate safety equipment carried.

1.2 Determine the cull animal required.
Species, sex, age group of animals that are intended to be culled.

1.3 Select firearm and ammunition to meet requirements of planned cull.
Suitable rifle calibre and sufficient ammunition.

1.4 Prepare tools, equipment and firearm into a safe and serviceable condition suitable for culling activities.
Tools may include: binoculars, knives, ATVs and high seats.
​

You will (or certainly should) do those things every time you go out stalking. IF you cannot follow basic safe practice (and if I was an AW) I'd abandon the outing there and then.

By getting the witness to write those up you are wasting their time. Do it all in one lot together. It would just make your portfolio look a mess.

 

[SussexFallow]

Just forget it and move on fella. You will get there in the end if your up to it. Sounds like the AW did what most would.
Atb Steve

 

[Pointer]

What planet are you on? Have you read your portfolio? Do you know what the individual points require of you?

I copied the first four out for you in an earlier post:

1.1 Carry out work safely in line with health and safety requirements.
Safe working practices demonstrated.
Suitable clothing worn.
Appropriate safety equipment carried.

1.2 Determine the cull animal required.
Species, sex, age group of animals that are intended to be culled.

1.3 Select firearm and ammunition to meet requirements of planned cull.
Suitable rifle calibre and sufficient ammunition.

1.4 Prepare tools, equipment and firearm into a safe and serviceable condition suitable for culling activities.
Tools may include: binoculars, knives, ATVs and high seats.
​

You will (or certainly should) do those things every time you go out stalking. IF you cannot follow basic safe practice (and if I was an AW) I'd abandon the outing there and then.

By getting the witness to write those up you are wasting their time. Do it all in one lot together. It would just make your portfolio look a mess.

I am on planet reality and one where I stand up for what is right and wrong. You are a vet with lots of money and clearly have all the money and time in the world, not all of us are so lucky!

I do not understand your reason for repeatedly posting on this thread. Are you annoyed that I complained about rip off vet fees on another thread and feel like you have to have a go back?

I have completed my portfolio now, so do not need your advice going forward.

 

[Pointer]

Just forget it and move on fella. You will get there in the end if your up to it. Sounds like the AW did what most would.
Atb Steve

As per previous comment it was experienced AWs on SD that sent me PMs recommending that I raise this issue. They were disgusted by what happened.

All ICRs complete now.

 

[sikamalc]

Appreciating that sikamalc is widely experienced in deer stalking, and certainly far more so than I am, I cannot entirely agree with him.

A park stalk saves the unfortunate candidate from the "armed ramble" experience that the OP has suffered.

When I did DSC2 some of my stalks were within a deer park and some outside. The deer that I shot within the park presented no more and no less a challenge than the wild deer that I have stalked elsewhere in the New Forest and Dorset.

If I remember the details correctly witnessed park stalks are only acceptable if the deer are able to display true wild habits.

atb Tim.

Tim,

You are right in your observations on park culling, and indeed it can be a problematic experience in having at times too many deer in front or behind the allotted target animal. However you are to a greater extent certain of taking a shot, and whether it is 100 acres or 300 acres you know the deer are in there and it is only a matter of time as they can only move so far and cannot escape. That to me is not what stalking is about and whilst appreciating that many disagree I still do not see it as stalking, more culling. And having undertaken park culling I can see both sides of the story.

Stalking on a large free range estate with reasonable deer numbers is proving that you can stalk wild deer with changeable wind conditions, terrain, etc is different to taking a beast in a park/farm/fenced area. I would urge all those proposing to take Level 2 to look at the list of AW'S and ask questions and make sure they are happy before settling for the one that they are going to use. Take your time and do a bit of research first, it pays dividends in the end.

ATB

Sikamalc

 

[sikamalc]

I am on planet reality and one where I stand up for what is right and wrong. You are a vet with lots of money and clearly have all the money and time in the world, not all of us are so lucky!

I do not understand your reason for repeatedly posting on this thread. Are you annoyed that I complained about rip off vet fees on another thread and feel like you have to have a go back?

I have completed my portfolio now, so do not need your advice going forward.

The above comments are a bit uncalled for and not in the spirit of the site. I think we are done on this thread.