DSC1

[Stephenbuck2489]

Evening folks.

As my DSC1 looms ever closer. (2 weeks to be precise)
Reading reading and more reading has been my nights passtimes for a while now.

The one thing i keep thinking.... "Is the DSC assessment difficult", or am overthinking too much due to the sheer amount within the manual you need to take in?
Im hoping i dont overthink and make a complete arse of it.
Any previous experiences will be greatly appreciated to put my mind at ease.

 

[TringSaint]

If you have read up well and studies the guide and have practiced the shooting disciplines then you will bd fine.
I just did the assessment and not the course and passed without issue.

 

[Trickyd66]

If you've read the book and can shoot ok you should be fine.
If you want a bit of reassuring, subscribe to the BDS ultimate deer data, or DSC training. Org.
Each are £20 or less, and give you mock theory tests. (Will cost you more to resit an unsuccessful part)

Have fun..

 

[VSS]

Evening folks.

As my DSC1 looms ever closer. (2 weeks to be precise)
Reading reading and more reading has been my nights passtimes for a while now.

The one thing i keep thinking.... "Is the DSC assessment difficult", or am overthinking too much due to the sheer amount within the manual you need to take in?
Im hoping i dont overthink and make a complete arse of it.
Any previous experiences will be greatly appreciated to put my mind at ease.

No, it's not difficult.
Anyone with a moderate level of intelligence will fly through the written assessments.
The only bit you really need to worry about is the shooting test. That's the bit that catches most people out, usually the confident ones.

 

[Blaser243]

Completely agree. I did mine 25 years ago and I still remember that it took me a couple of goes to get the 100m prone test done. The two shorter range ones were a doddle as I’d shot plenty off sticks. However, I'd never shot prone before and it was harder than I thought! I should have done that off sticks too!

 

[mayflew]

You'll be absolutely fine. Just keep studying and it'll come to you on the day.

I did the BDS online DSC1. I will say: the "real" deer identification on the day was far easier than the practice photos, partially because we were looking at them blown up on a big projector rather than a low-res photo on a small phone or laptop screen.

The game meat hygiene portion is mostly common sense. Do a quick scan of the chapter in the book prior to the assessment and you'll ace it.

DMQ isn't trying to trick you or catch you out; they want you to pass. Just make sure you're familiar with the material.

Unfortunately I failed the shooting assessment first time; I was not so experienced behind a rifle and dropped a shot from prone as I hadn't really shot prone much. But even if you don't pass the shooting, you can practice with the air rifle in the garden, then go back for a resit when you feel more confident--that's what I did, and I now gladly hold my DSC1. You only have to resit the parts of the assessment that you don't pass, so even if the worst happens it just means contacting a local assessor for another go.

My one bit of advice on the shooting: pay attention to the points of aim told to you by the instructor as you really can't make out the target circle through the scope.

Good luck, don't overthink it, and make sure to have a good time. I really enjoyed my assessment day and wish that I'd done the full 3-day in person course.

 

[Archer]

You'll be absolutely fine. Just keep studying and it'll come to you on the day.

I did the BDS online DSC1. I will say: the "real" deer identification on the day was far easier than the practice photos, partially because we were looking at them blown up on a big projector rather than a low-res photo on a small phone or laptop screen.

The game meat hygiene portion is mostly common sense. Do a quick scan of the chapter in the book prior to the assessment and you'll ace it.

DMQ isn't trying to trick you or catch you out; they want you to pass. Just make sure you're familiar with the material.

Unfortunately I failed the shooting assessment first time; I was not so experienced behind a rifle and dropped a shot from prone as I hadn't really shot prone much. But even if you don't pass the shooting, you can practice with the air rifle in the garden, then go back for a resit when you feel more confident--that's what I did, and I now gladly hold my DSC1. You only have to resit the parts of the assessment that you don't pass, so even if the worst happens it just means contacting a local assessor for another go.

My one bit of advice on the shooting: pay attention to the points of aim told to you by the instructor as you really can't make out the target circle through the scope.

Good luck, don't overthink it, and make sure to have a good time. I really enjoyed my assessment day and wish that I'd done the full 3-day in person course.

This {My one bit of advice on the shooting: pay attention to the points of aim told to you by the instructor as you really can't make out the target circle through the scope}.

 

[VSS]

This {My one bit of advice on the shooting: pay attention to the points of aim told to you by the instructor as you really can't make out the target circle through the scope}.

That's the whole point. You're not supposed to be able to see the target circle on the deer silhouette.

 

[patjack]

I did mine 27 years ago and yes the shooting test caught some out, however so did the written exam as there was not all the pre reading and help that there is now, I'm glad back in the day it was a 3 day course and physical attendance needed as it was a great introduction and a good social event something probably lost on the online assessment only approach.

Enjoy don't worry and over think it as that won't help.

 

[mayflew]

That's the whole point. You're not supposed to be able to see the target circle on the deer silhouette.

For me it wasn't as easy placing a shot on a black outline rather than a photo of a deer (or an actual deer) where you can use the natural lines of the animal to help make point of aim a bit more clear. It's just something I wanted to highlight to anyone going into the assessment. I had done most of my practice via air rifle in the back garden on a standard target. Quite different to a silhouette!

 

[weblyish]

Evening folks.

As my DSC1 looms ever closer. (2 weeks to be precise)
Reading reading and more reading has been my nights passtimes for a while now.

The one thing i keep thinking.... "Is the DSC assessment difficult", or am overthinking too much due to the sheer amount within the manual you need to take in?
Im hoping i dont overthink and make a complete arse of it.
Any previous experiences will be greatly appreciated to put my mind at ease.

I did mine this year
If you are worried about it then you've probably on the right track.
Everyone I know has a story of someone who turned up on their course completely unprepared but totally confident they would wing it and completely failed

I found it dead simple. I set aside 8weeks to revise as advised but only needed about 1 week.

If you actually read through the question bank multiple times and make sure you know what you need to learn you should solidly be getting over the pass mark (80%)

You can get the whole question set off the DMQ website

Downloadable Resources Page – DMQ – DMQ

dmq.org.uk

Bear on mind the question set is fixed so you don't have to know stuff that is not on the dmq question set. (I.e. you don't need to know any of the season dates themselves - the questions are where would you go to find out the seasons )

Visual ID might be tricky and that not on the dmq website you can use Ultimate deer data or @Migwados of this parish has an app which will help you on that
The actual photos in the test are more clear and straightforward than the revision ones so if you know what to look for you won't have an issue

If you have done a decent amount of revision and have the intelligence above a slug then you will be fine

 

[Stephenbuck2489]

No, it's not difficult.
Anyone with a moderate level of intelligence will fly through the written assessments.
The only bit you really need to worry about is the shooting test. That's the bit that catches most people out, usually the confident ones.

To be fair , as i read through the book and questions, Allot of it does seem like a very common sense approach is best with answers.
ive not come across the mock tests as @Trickyd66 has pointed out. so i will definitely have a look at this!

 

[Stephenbuck2489]

You'll be absolutely fine. Just keep studying and it'll come to you on the day.

I did the BDS online DSC1. I will say: the "real" deer identification on the day was far easier than the practice photos, partially because we were looking at them blown up on a big projector rather than a low-res photo on a small phone or laptop screen.

The game meat hygiene portion is mostly common sense. Do a quick scan of the chapter in the book prior to the assessment and you'll ace it.

DMQ isn't trying to trick you or catch you out; they want you to pass. Just make sure you're familiar with the material.

Unfortunately I failed the shooting assessment first time; I was not so experienced behind a rifle and dropped a shot from prone as I hadn't really shot prone much. But even if you don't pass the shooting, you can practice with the air rifle in the garden, then go back for a resit when you feel more confident--that's what I did, and I now gladly hold my DSC1. You only have to resit the parts of the assessment that you don't pass, so even if the worst happens it just means contacting a local assessor for another go.

My one bit of advice on the shooting: pay attention to the points of aim told to you by the instructor as you really can't make out the target circle through the scope.

Good luck, don't overthink it, and make sure to have a good time. I really enjoyed my assessment day and wish that I'd done the full 3-day in person course.

Im away for 4 days to do it. took a range day the day before my test plus a few night and morning Stalks across the 4 days il be there with my DSC on day 3.
im really looking forward to the DSC part and the stalks. but most of all. 3 nights 4 days away from the missus and kids.

 

[Stephenbuck2489]

I did mine this year
If you are worried about it then you've probably on the right track.
Everyone I know has a story of someone who turned up on their course completely unprepared but totally confident they would wing it and completely failed

I found it dead simple. I set aside 8weeks to revise as advised but only needed about 1 week.

If you actually read through the question bank multiple times and make sure you know what you need to learn you should solidly be getting over the pass mark (80%)

You can get the whole question set off the DMQ website

Downloadable Resources Page – DMQ – DMQ

dmq.org.uk

Bear on mind the question set is fixed so you don't have to know stuff that is not on the dmq question set. (I.e. you don't need to know any of the season dates themselves - the questions are where would you go to find out the seasons )

Visual ID might be tricky and that not on the dmq website you can use Ultimate deer data or @Migwados of this parish has an app which will help you on that
The actual photos in the test are more clear and straightforward than the revision ones so if you know what to look for you won't have an issue

If you have done a decent amount of revision and have the intelligence above a slug then you will be fine

thanks for that mate. i have been at the book for about 6 weeks now on evenings in peace at the point now where im Reading back through the questions and flicking back through the book to make sense of certain answers.

 

[Migwados]

thanks for that mate. i have been at the book for about 6 weeks now on evenings in peace at the point now where im Reading back through the questions and flicking back through the book to make sense of certain answers.

You should be fine if you’re revising regularly. I did mine recently and we started with the shooting. Me and 2 others failed it for various reasons.
We nailed the other 4 modules though, so the app works at least
I had my partner quizzing me on the safety assessment (for her sins). It’s a lot to take in, but if you’re out stalking regularly it’s like muscle memory.
It’s definitely tricky to remember to say things like “take the rifle out of the slip, ensure a steady and supported shooting position” etc because it’s all stuff you do without a second thought.
The biggest thing on the day for a lot of people was the nerves. I could see people visibly shaking as they were loading up and pushing the bolt forward. Just try and remember that everyone there is in the same boat and the examiners are just making sure you’re being safe.
The visual ID part was definitely a little tricky, so be sure to put your hand up and ask for more time if you’re unsure. We had ours on the big screen from a projector so once we all confirmed we’d supplied an answer, the examiner moved to the next slide.
BASC and their team were great though tbf. Nothing felt rushed, the examiners made us feel really comfortable and you’re with a group of like minded individuals who are all looking for the same outcome, so try not to let the nerves creep in!
Best of luck with it and hopefully you’ll be back soon with the good news!

PS: Don’t forget to revise the wild boar questions on the game hygiene section as well, because they definitely came up!

 

[sikamalc]

Ok a couple of tips for you.

Firstly relax, don't get too stressed out about it all. Secondly, don't fret too much about dates on various deer species. And on the deer identification pictures there will always as a rule be photos of Sika in summer coat, which can be mistaken for spotted Fallow.

Look carefully, Fallow have the longest tail, and a black horseshoe shape on their bum. They also have a longer face than a Sika, whilst Sika have a short more tri angular face, and a slightly sooty colour along the edge of their belly, when in summer coat. Their also shorter and stocky in their appearance.
They also have a white/cream gland patch on their back leg, which one hardly ever see's in the wild, until their dead and on the floor.

 

[Migwados]

Wasn’t even aware that they took this photo, but here’s us during the visual ID part

 

[GBR66]

Firstly - good luck!

Secondly, no it's not difficult if, as it sounds you have, done some preparation. I found myself going "deer fact" blind by day 3 but the instructors are there to help and there will be varied experience on the course so its useful overall learning experience with generally likeminded people.
On the practical safety - be logical and over safe if you have a mental blank, on the shoot - take your time and get settled and ideally have a practice the week before, then leave the rifle scope well alone rather than fiddling!

 

[Archer]

Something from my safety test.

For the test I was given a blue solid plastic rifle- that was it. Nothing else was allowed and on the walk through I was tested using voice and not equipment carried.
I stalk regularly so I had no difficulty explaining what I do.
If this style of assessment happens to you, take it slow, easy, try not to get flustered and remember, it is not a time trial!

 

[Stephenbuck2489]

You should be fine if you’re revising regularly. I did mine recently and we started with the shooting. Me and 2 others failed it for various reasons.
We nailed the other 4 modules though, so the app works at least
I had my partner quizzing me on the safety assessment (for her sins). It’s a lot to take in, but if you’re out stalking regularly it’s like muscle memory.
It’s definitely tricky to remember to say things like “take the rifle out of the slip, ensure a steady and supported shooting position” etc because it’s all stuff you do without a second thought.
The biggest thing on the day for a lot of people was the nerves. I could see people visibly shaking as they were loading up and pushing the bolt forward. Just try and remember that everyone there is in the same boat and the examiners are just making sure you’re being safe.
The visual ID part was definitely a little tricky, so be sure to put your hand up and ask for more time if you’re unsure. We had ours on the big screen from a projector so once we all confirmed we’d supplied an answer, the examiner moved to the next slide.
BASC and their team were great though tbf. Nothing felt rushed, the examiners made us feel really comfortable and you’re with a group of like minded individuals who are all looking for the same outcome, so try not to let the nerves creep in!
Best of luck with it and hopefully you’ll be back soon with the good news!

PS: Don’t forget to revise the wild boar questions on the game hygiene section as well, because they definitely came up!

ive done very little Stalking thus far, as this is all pre FAC to hopefully help with my application process