DSC 2 - worth it?
- Thread starter Nick1976
- Start date
Becoming a requirement here & there.
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
There's your answer.
Yes as long as you know what YOU are getting from it.
You are going to prove to a second party, and answer questions from a third, that you can stalk, despatch, gralloch and put in the foodchain safely. Demonstrate your knowledge....
Some people dont want to. Or need to. Some people do. Its fair to candidates, I believe.
You are going to prove to a second party, and answer questions from a third, that you can stalk, despatch, gralloch and put in the foodchain safely. Demonstrate your knowledge....
Some people dont want to. Or need to. Some people do. Its fair to candidates, I believe.
timbrayford
Well-Known Member
Do it because you believe that you will find it an enriching experience and not because you see the lack of it as a barrier
Ask yourself why you you are considering doing it.
Is it about finding additional stalking opportunities, about furthering your own knowledge and experience, about ticking a box, or something else?
Candidates complete DSC2 for a whole variety of reasons, but only you can determine whether your specific motivation justifies the time and effort involved,
Is it about finding additional stalking opportunities, about furthering your own knowledge and experience, about ticking a box, or something else?
Candidates complete DSC2 for a whole variety of reasons, but only you can determine whether your specific motivation justifies the time and effort involved,
Just going through mine ! In fact sitting here writing my narrative and yes was worth it learning more about what we do is never a bad thing !
Education is one thing, from what I can see DSC2 is about objectively demonstrating that you are competent in the field and can apply best practice. If it's a hard requirement in order to participate in something (a syndicate, scheme etc) then it's worth it (this is why I've done it).
If you're thinking about doing it for personal development, then you should be able to find all the info on best practice guides/in your DSC1 and you don't need to do DSC2 in order to develop those skills.
On the other hand, you may find that it helps to set goals, in which case it may be worth it if you have the money to spend. Horses for courses.
If you're thinking about doing it for personal development, then you should be able to find all the info on best practice guides/in your DSC1 and you don't need to do DSC2 in order to develop those skills.
On the other hand, you may find that it helps to set goals, in which case it may be worth it if you have the money to spend. Horses for courses.
if you feel its needed to open doors or you like a certificate then do it. Standard is not high enough in mu opinion. Years back if someone had level 2 i would see a very competent person. Now i see mediocrity. Level 3 4 and 5 should be added now 
Shootgun
Well-Known Member
Not with only one witnessed stalk… is a bloody joke!
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
I completed my DSC II under the "three deer" regime.
It was not easy, it took a long time (you had three years to sort out three witnessed stalks from the moment they cashed your cheque).
Finally completed, it gave me more satisfaction than any other qualification I ever achieved.
On a purely personal level, I was saddened to see the reduction down to one witnessed stalk.
Acutely aware there are others who will gainsay this.
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You'd have thought we'd already done the 3 vs 1 stalks discussion to death, yet with every thread mentioning DSC2 it is the same 
Whether you care for it or not, the system has changed.
Whether you care for it or not, the system has changed.
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
Indeed I don't, and indeed it has.
It's OK to express an opinion about things in the past - it's how old men get through the day...
Dunwaters
Well-Known Member
While you can indeed fulfil the requirements with one stalk, theres no rule preventing you from spreading the process out over a few more.
Take time to enjoy the process
it doesn't turn you into something you where not as it is ultimetly just a test . A test that has been downgraded a lot just to get more people to pay the fees and take the test .
I have had it a long while and the only thing its done is get me higher up the draw on Aran getting a place first go , didn't go though because i was double booked.
Personally i would have upgraded DS2 requirements of testing and held out bigger rewards to those who completed it ( like more public Forestry access) Also dropped park culling of the beasts used because a big part was planning the stalk, my AW wouldn't count high seat stalks btw and i back that personally
There is still not enough incentive, its a bit like doing the advanced driving test or doing the 7.5 tonne licence ( for those younger than myself .
Glad i took it because i dont ever need to take it in a hurry if it comes to matter but like i say in actually use ? Not really worthwhile for any but those collecting the fees
I have had it a long while and the only thing its done is get me higher up the draw on Aran getting a place first go , didn't go though because i was double booked.
Personally i would have upgraded DS2 requirements of testing and held out bigger rewards to those who completed it ( like more public Forestry access) Also dropped park culling of the beasts used because a big part was planning the stalk, my AW wouldn't count high seat stalks btw and i back that personally
There is still not enough incentive, its a bit like doing the advanced driving test or doing the 7.5 tonne licence ( for those younger than myself .
Glad i took it because i dont ever need to take it in a hurry if it comes to matter but like i say in actually use ? Not really worthwhile for any but those collecting the fees
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
Cannot help thinking that folk wouldn't be tripping over themselves to do that.
I used to have a week each year on the Sika Hinds (and then later the Stags) in Sutherland. The Stalker up there was an AW, and I managed (just) to get one AW stalk in each week for the three years that I had 'available', once I had entered the process.
It was not (for me) easy, but I really enjoyed (not entirely sure that is the right word) the whole process.
Took plenty of time to fill out the booklet as comprehensively as I could.
Still quite a tense time when the Verifier phones to discuss it all.
I went on to do the BDS stuff as well - just enjoyed the learning about what I was fascinated by.
Twenty years (nearly) later, I still very much consider myself a 'novice', but am glad I went through the process that was 'in' when I went for it.
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