DSC2 Questions

[Bowland blades]

Yeah you made the point on every thread you have trolled mate. Like I said we are bored of it.
If you really need to vent then speak to DMQ not ruin every thread on here.

You know there is an ignore feature , i am personally fed up of those that rope in " we" and "all"

 

[User00057]

Yeah just press ignore please mate.

 

[timbrayford]

I have finally decided to do the DSC2 as I got a forestry grant but have a few questions.

Reading the documentation it says that head shots aren't recommended (not unusual) but later says that if a head shot is taken then the node inspection will factor this in. Has anyone done their DSC2 and taken a head shot? Was there any issues. I don't need advice on head shooting and it's ethics, just an answer to the question asked.

Also, how do people dispose of the gralloch? I assume that it isn't buried as per the guidelines.

Suspended gralloch in a deer larder with waste disposal facilities is best practice, i.e. make life easy for yourself and plan ahead for your DSC2 stalk. Apart from that bushes and badger setts appear to be useful but don't forget to pierce the rumen, especially if there's public access nearby

 

[User00057]

I was lucky as was invited to Scotland for mine and they had amazing larder and waste disposal facilities. Made the stress of the larder part much less. Let’s face it regardless of how many one does you still feel like you are being tested. The chap that did my AW was very nice though and put me at ease.
I actually found it tricky finding an AW locally as so few in my area.

 

[Mike1979]

Since head shots are the "least preferred" option I passed up on a couple during my witnessed stalk and managed a nice chest shot on a roe doe the next day. Ultimately if you make your life easy and go with advised "best practice" its easier for all. dazrc also makes a good point above...finding an AW is getting more and more difficult. I headed to Cams/Suffolk and did mine with Jim Riley at DGVM.

 

[User00057]

I know a few are disillusioned with DMQ. Im not the greatest fan but have become an AW to help others more. Not looking at making money but I just enjoy the whole process. And it’s great to meet other Stalkers and see the different way we all do things.

 

[Mike1979]

I know a few are disillusioned with DMQ. Im not the greatest fan but have become an AW to help others more. Not looking at making money but I just enjoy the whole process. And it’s great to meet other Stalkers and see the different way we all do things.

Good on you mate

 

[finnbear270]

I no longer miss those days of carrying an entrenching tool to bury the gralloch a metre deep well away from a water course

 

[kieran222]

All done last year. Perhaps the most difficult part was getting an AW. Messaged a few and never got a reply. In the end got one of the BASC lads to do the witness. I have to say that he definitely put in the effort, met me early in the morning after a fair drive by him. I have offered to take him out on the roe Bucks but he couldn't make it before the vegetation got too tall so shall try and sort something out for Sept/Oct. I would have been happy to at least paid his expenses but he declined.

 

[sikamalc]

All done last year. Perhaps the most difficult part was getting an AW. Messaged a few and never got a reply. In the end got one of the BASC lads to do the witness. I have to say that he definitely put in the effort, met me early in the morning after a fair drive by him. I have offered to take him out on the roe Bucks but he couldn't make it before the vegetation got too tall so shall try and sort something out for Sept/Oct. I would have been happy to at least paid his expenses but he declined.

Congratulations on attaining your Level 2.

I am not surprised you had difficulty in finding an AW. You are not the first to tell me this, and I have had a good client recently had the same issue. But as I have now left the Approved Witness status I couldnt help him either.
This recent request to pay for a refresher course is a joke, in my opinion, and many AW's have left.

Still you got there in the end so well done.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

If your asking questions your not ready.

Absurd statement.

Plenty of reasons a head shot can be the best option in a particular situation.
If the candidate is worrying you with shot placement that is an entirely different issue.
Precision/Accuracy is a different discussion to decision making when it comes to shot placement and timing.


OP: Your head shot scenario depends a lot on who your assessor is and whether they are sensible and how they interpret the statement in PC3.3:

Performance Criteria
3.3 Inspect carcass, organs and lymph sites for normality according to legal requirements.

Key Features
"Without prompting or guidance, candidate demonstrates locating and inspecting the mesenteric, sub-maxillary and retropharyngeal lymph nodes. If lymph nodes in head are not available for inspection, candidate must inspect any 2 of the following: portal, gastric, bronchial or mediastinal. Candidate observed carrying out internal inspection of the empty carcass."

Some assessors/IVs lately are insisting on seperate head inspection to be carried out on another ICR
There is far too much interpretation of the PC statements .... IMO....

I agree i think one stalk is more than enough and i don't care if its CWD on flat parks or half way up a Munro. The skills are set out and don't seem to mention different scenarios. Many did not do three stalks and many wrote them in the pub for mates. Some Guides over looked mistakes knowing the guest would be back for the next two stalks with cash. My advice is be ready to sit the Basic competence assessment and you will do fine. Avoid difficult shots while under the watchful eye of the Assessor you might just feck up with nerves.

This infuriates me.
The lack of professional courtesy openly displayed by Assessors/IVs towards witnesses over the years is one of the many reasons this system is failing.
Many current assessors seem to forget that they were once lowly witnesses.

There is a distinct lack of respect shown towards the people who often deliver a service at their own cost. The fees we charge do not come close to covering the time and fuel required to effectively witness a candidate on their ground and prepare the paperwork.
The assumption that you did a shoddy job on the day, weren't present, "did it in the pub" for your mates.

One assessor actually asked one of my candidates "was the witness present on the day"!! The ****ing cheek!

Many Assessors now seem to think they are the only ones who could possibly know what questions to ask to better understand the candidates ability, knowledge and skill level.

If anything my questioning of the candidates performance on the day drawing on 35 yrs stalking experience, BSc Hons Degree in Animal Behaviour and Applied Biology, trumps whatever questions the candidate may be faced with 4 weeks after the event by someone who wasn't there.


Far too many people seem to think DSC2 is some badge of honour to be held over those without it.
In simple terms it is THE BARE MINIMUM practical qualification and assessement of a set of performance criteria that indicates a candidate has a cursory knowledge of safety, biology and the legal processes around notifiable diseases, game handling and primary production of game going into the food chain.
You either tick the PCs off on the day or come back to have another go.

There is no kudos achieving in with fewer or more culls under your belt.
No-one asks how many miles you drove to get your license.