DSC1 queries

[Jamie956]

Hi all

I’m keen to do my DSC1 and GMHC but have some questions

It seems that there are different organisations offering the DSC1, or from what I can tell their own versions in some cases, so I wanted to be sure which ones I should be looking at? I’ve looked on BASC and BDS and am finding different places on different dates, I thought they would line up with each other. I’m wanting to do it in the North Yorkshire area really so I can travel each day and keep cost down, plus doing it over a weekend would be ideal as I’m self employed so not at work = not getting paid = another cost to factor in. From what I’ve found they have been held at Northallerton and Driffield in the past and either of these would be ideal, but I’m unsure weather the people running these courses (and people do seem very happy with them) are doing so on behalf of BASC/BDS or whoever, or if they are independent to them so have their available courses listed elsewhere and I haven’t seen them?

Please do not think I’m doubting the level of skill or knowledge of anyone at all, I just don’t know how it all works, who works for who or where there is a complete list of places to look for what I want.

Thanks in advance

J

 

[Woodsy]

Hi all

I’m keen to do my DSC1 and GMHC but have some questions

It seems that there are different organisations offering the DSC1, or from what I can tell their own versions in some cases, so I wanted to be sure which ones I should be looking at? I’ve looked on BASC and BDS and am finding different places on different dates, I thought they would line up with each other. I’m wanting to do it in the North Yorkshire area really so I can travel each day and keep cost down, plus doing it over a weekend would be ideal as I’m self employed so not at work = not getting paid = another cost to factor in. From what I’ve found they have been held at Northallerton and Driffield in the past and either of these would be ideal, but I’m unsure weather the people running these courses (and people do seem very happy with them) are doing so on behalf of BASC/BDS or whoever, or if they are independent to them so have their available courses listed elsewhere and I haven’t seen them?

Please do not think I’m doubting the level of skill or knowledge of anyone at all, I just don’t know how it all works, who works for who or where there is a complete list of places to look for what I want.

Thanks in advance

J

DMQ

www.dmq.org.uk

This will answer your questions. It’s DMQ, but lots of course providers/assessment centres. See the ‘Assesment Centres’ section on their website.

Enjoy your DSC1.

 

[Jamie956]

Thanks for that

It seems to be the main offices for different organisations. Looking on BASC and BDS it looks like they have their lists up till the end of the year, maybe il just have to wait for next year's list and see if there's a weekend course withing range, or are there other people's lists I havnt seen?

Cheers

 

[willie_gunn]

It is somewhat confusing, but let me try to explain things - or at least explain how I see it.

As @Woodsy has said, the whole DSC1 scheme is officially managed by DMQ (Deer Management Qualifications). When you receive it, your DSC1 will be signed by a representative of DMQ. It always used to be the Chairman who signed the certificates, but that might have changed these days.

This means that only DMQ Assessment Centres can deliver a DMQ-accredited course. You can find a list of those Assessment Centres here:

Assessment Centres – DMQ

www.dmq.org.uk

So, as you have already found, both BDS and BASC are DMQ-accredited Assessment Centres, and both offer formal DSC1 courses via their websites.

To complicate matters somewhat, however, these Assessment Centres can also approve trainers/assessors, who can then deliver DSC1 courses as part of other companies or bodies. Hence, for example (and I chose them entirely at random), Greenlee Deer Management in Northumberland can offer an approved DSC1 course because they utilise a BASC approved trainer and assessor.

Deer Management Courses, Northumberland, North East England

Courses for safe rifle handling and DSC levels 1 and 2 with BASC Assessor and Accredited trainer - Jon Snowdon - novices are welcome.

www.greenleedeer.co.uk

So if you have found a training provider who says they offer the DSC1, but who doesn't appear in the list of DMQ Assessment Centres, check to see which DMQ-accredited trainer/assessor they are actually using to deliver the course. This may be a named individual, as above.

Outside of DMQ there are then a whole variety of other courses available that profess to offer an introduction to deer stalking. These are largely built around a similar prospectus to DSC1. For example County Deer Services (again chose at random) offer their PDS1, the Proficient Deer Stalker Certificate Level 1:

Deer Stalking Course

LANTRA and UKRS accredited course delivered by a trusted provider of deer stalker training. The PDS1 is nationally recognised Deer Management course that delivers 'Trained Hunter' status.

www.huntingacademy.co.uk

If you are considering these other offerings you want to ensure that the courses they run are LANTRA approved. LANTRA is the national training and awarding body for land-based qualifications. Whilst I am sure many of these training providers are excellent, you do have to factor into the equation that "DSC1" has been going for many years, and so it is familiar to most police forces, land agents, estate owners, and other deer stalkers. That may or may not be important to you.

Personally I would stick to DSC1.

Best of luck in finding a provider - hopefully someone here will know of a suitable course being run local to you.

 

[Jamie956]

That's great thanks, clears things up or clarifies what I thought. So it’s like a pyramid with DMQ at the top, BASC and BDS in the middle and the experienced stalkers at the bottom doing the courses for them.

Yes I do want a DMQ course but have seen some of the other courses offered. I also want to do the GMHC aswell which seems to run with some DSC1 courses but not all. I’m guessing I can do that on it’s own whenever but it will have to be after the DSC1 and not before?

Yes hopefully someone will know of something in my area that I haven’t found as I rant very good at surfing the net ha

J