Novice Stalk vs DSC1

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kscott

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Hoping for a bit of advice here.

I’m looking to get started in Deer Stalking, I’ve never been on a stalk before and I’m on the look out for opportunities.

One thing that is confusing me is whether it is better to get out on a stalk catered towards novices or to take a place on a DSC1 course. The information is conflicting.

If I have it right, it seems to me that the practical skills (shooting/stalking/gralloching etc) would be learnt on the stalk itself, whereas a DSC1 is more about general deer knowledge and meat hygiene. Obviously I’m generalising a lot, but that seems to be the breakdown of it at the moment.

If anyone can shed some light on the differences, and advise me where to best to get started then I would appreciate it!

Cheers.
 
Being a novice myself (done a handful of stalks and recently done DSC1) I would say get out on a stalk first for some hands on experience as you will still learn a lot. DSC1 was worthwhile doing as well but acts more in my opinion as something to reinforce knowledge you would get from stalks/speaking to experienced people and reviewing the materials out there

But if you've not done a stalk yet theres always a chance you might not enjoy it, at which point paying the money for DSC1 might seem like a waste.
 
This is going to be fun…

In all seriousness, if you want to learn how to stalk get one booked with someone who’s willing to give you a bit of guidance (there are plenty on here).

In my view, DSC1 gives a good grounding in identifying deer, seasons, safe and legal use of rifles and so on. All these things will put you in good stead of you are going out stalking so you know the sorts of things you can shoot, when and where etc. It can also help placate FEOs who are wary of granting FACs to people who have just got into deer stalking.

From my recollection of doing it, the DSC does very little to teach you how to stalk and anyone who thinks they are competent simply by doing it is kidding themselves. That only comes by doing the miles.

Would I recommend the DSC? Yes, but to mean you have the basic knowledge on which to learn to stalk, not to actually teach you how to.
 
Simple answer is - get out on a couple of stalks first but make sure you are going out with a good guy.
 
Go for a stalk, it will give you an idea of what it is like, then if you wish to continue stalking then look to do DSC1. There is a lot of theory and a shooting test. No actual stalking in DSC1. But you will learn a lot that will help you.
 
kscott said:
Hoping for a bit of advice here.

I’m looking to get started in Deer Stalking, I’ve never been on a stalk before and I’m on the look out for opportunities.

One thing that is confusing me is whether it is better to get out on a stalk catered towards novices or to take a place on a DSC1 course. The information is conflicting.

If I have it right, it seems to me that the practical skills (shooting/stalking/gralloching etc) would be learnt on the stalk itself, whereas a DSC1 is more about general deer knowledge and meat hygiene. Obviously I’m generalising a lot, but that seems to be the breakdown of it at the moment.

If anyone can shed some light on the differences, and advise me where to best to get started then I would appreciate it!

Cheers.
Click to expand...
As I have said many times " there much more than stalking deer in the shooting world"

You cant buy field craft only with the miles under your boots, yes a guide will show you but it takes a very long time.
It took me years to get half way decent to be able to work out a 100 then a 200 then 300 + bird pigeon day as I used to chip away 20/30/40's as reading the lines/available food.....
Shooting hundreds of foxes made a huge difference to stalking deer which all came from shooting rabbits with a .22
which came from shooting rats with a air gun....
Find a local shoot and go beating as that is a good start.....WHY you ask....noisy beaters chatting shouting pheasants get their head down a leg it.. you will get to walk not stomp lots to see on the ground, prints slots runs trails

Or follow the other following advice. :rolleyes:
 
kscott said:
Hoping for a bit of advice here.

I’m looking to get started in Deer Stalking, I’ve never been on a stalk before and I’m on the look out for opportunities.

One thing that is confusing me is whether it is better to get out on a stalk catered towards novices or to take a place on a DSC1 course. The information is conflicting.

If I have it right, it seems to me that the practical skills (shooting/stalking/gralloching etc) would be learnt on the stalk itself, whereas a DSC1 is more about general deer knowledge and meat hygiene. Obviously I’m generalising a lot, but that seems to be the breakdown of it at the moment.

If anyone can shed some light on the differences, and advise me where to best to get started then I would appreciate it!

Cheers.
Click to expand...
Without parroting what everyone else has said, I would get out and do some stalking prior to taking the DSC1 course. I think the information in it is far more useful and you will enjoy it more if you have some practical experience in which to relate it to. I did the DSC1, enjoyed it and go a lot out of it and had approx. 5-10 outings completed before I attended.

Before going out stalking you may want to attend a shooting school with a rifle range first (you may already proficient and so can ignore this). You want to make sure you already have the basics of fire arm safety and how to fire a rifle with a competent degree of accuracy. If you are a novice, I am sure the stalker will run through the safety elements prior to setting off anyway, but from your own confidence and a deer welfare point of view I would say its worth getting at least one trip to the range under your belt before going out.

No idea where you are based but I live in West London and can recomend the below shooting school from experience as a starting off point:

RIFLE RANGE

www.shootingschool.co.uk www.shootingschool.co.uk
 
SussexSteve said:
will have some opportunities for someone to get hands on who wishes to improve their knife skills on our cull days in Crowborough on Saturdays November to March..No Fee
PM me if you are interested Thanks
Click to expand...

@SussexSteve recently posted with an offer of some free gralloching experience on cull days - he might be too far away from you but this would be a great opportunity to get some fantastic hands-on experience.

As others have said, DSC1 offers a good intro into the legal stuff around stalking, deer identification etc but it’s no substitute for practical experience in the field.

Do you shoot a rifle already? Going from starting out straight to deer without passing rabbits is quite a big step to take in a single stride. Most people who stalk started out hunting rabbits, squirrels and other “vermin control” with air-rifles and rim fire rifles. While this isn’t quite the same as stalking, it does teach you lots of very valuable lessons and gives you a chance to get some miles under your belt, developing practical experience in using a rifle safely, skinning and gutting, and perhaps puts you on a path to gaining your first stalking permissions.

So my advice would be to do both: DSC1 and walk outs with an experienced stalker - while also shooting rabbits, rats and squirrels if you aren’t doing so already,
 
Start by acquiring the basic firearm skills, if you have some already then go on a few paid stalks but be honest with whoever is bringing you out. Once you’ve done that go for DSC 1, the course will make far more sense after a few outings.
 
All the advice above is excellent and I agree with it all.
I had been shooting and living in the countryside for some 30 years, using shotguns, rim fires and air rifles but very little deer stalking before I did my DSC1.
I was pretty shocked at how little I knew about deer!
But as stated above it is only a framework on which you can build your knowledge and experience.,
 
As I new stalker this year I'd agree with the above. I'd emphasise getting a shot at targets before your first guided stalk. I had four shots in a field before we went out which is good for your confidence (hopefully!!) Different experience shooting a deer calibre than an air rifle. I had about five or six stalks before my DSC1 came round and that felt right for me.

Enjoy the journey.
 
In my opinion you are better booking a stalk with a professional guide. Then if you feel this is what you want to pursue, book in for your Level One. Level one has changed since 1st April this year. I shall probably be holding a 3 day course in March next year in West Sussex.

Make sure any guide you book with is insured. Many ask for the client to be insured, which is not the case if you are paying to stalk, as this is commercial stalking. Also if they use their vehicle, it should be insured for business.
We take a lot of folk stalking, and have a number of novices booked to go out this winter. All advice is freely given, and if a deer is grassed we will go through the lardering process as well. No extra charges, its all in with the stalking fee £85 for Fallow/Roe and no kill fee.

Good luck
 
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