PDS 1&2 now recognised

[timbrayford]

There’s a video on YouTube channel “hunter gatherer cooking” which gives an overview of the PDS1 online course from the candidate’s prospective. It looks like you could do the PDS1 online in a morning if you got your eyes down. The video has got the feel of a paid advert but take a look and see what you think.
I did the DSC1 recently and it was excellent. It was sat over 4 days with a recommendation to start studying the hefty course material at least 8 weeks in advance. I can’t see how the 2 courses can be equivalent.
If they both give the same result in allowing access to FLS contracts, trained hunter, fit and competent etc, I’d still choose the DSC as it seems much more comprehensive.

I can't speak for PDS, I've no knowledge of it, but I did the BDS Online version of DSC1 around 15 years ago, to pass I still had to attend an assessment day.

 

[Dickie]

My DSC trainer told me it’s independent and I’ve no reason to disbelieve him. Actually, I think he said externally verified which amounts to the same thing.
It probably does matter if it’s rebranded, not to me but potentially to the owners of the intellectual property.
The rest of what you said is great news for those that benefit, but it’s not for me.

If you’ve done it like me then it matters not.
For newbie’s you pays your money you take your chance.

 

[British Shooting Services]

But don't university's use different examination boards so its to the same standard so you get a BSc? Still comes out as recognised by the people that count.
If it leads to matching standards which are recognised by forestry companies and any other organisation that wants proof of competence surely that's good? Up until now you could say DMQ has had a monopoly on what is a commercial venture suppling a qualification and lining their pockets, it's not for the good of us.

About Us

Deer Management Qualifications (DMQ) is a not for profit company, limited by guarantee, which maintains the Deer Stalking Certificate (DSC) standard, quality assures the assessment process, and administers the awards.

 

[enfieldspares]

In my teen youth early 70's Dads/Uncles passed on a wealth of knowledge in the shooting world from air gun then garden gun .410. .22lr How to load them safely walk with them safely that was very good training which later in life you can spot who knows how to use a gun and those who can't in an instant. Non of that was regulated just a good foundation.

In my late father's case he recounted that aged nine or so he once put his hand over the muzzles of (his father's...so my grandfather's) gun that was stood up in a gun rack during a shoot lunch. He said that the belting round the ear from his my grandfather's keeper (with my grandfather's approval) was forceful to say the least. He never put his hand so again on a set of gun muzzles. And I am forever grateful to him for telling me the story to make the point by word and not by deed.

 

[devon deer stalker]

Peter Jones is definitely a marmite type, but he saw an opportunity and created PDS, he is an astute businessman. I was very suspicious of the quality of stalkers that have come to me in the recent past having taken the PDS1, they have been knowledgeable and no issues in the field that concerned me.

 

[cjm1066]

Recognised by the FC, that's only important if the FC are offering stalking licenses??

 

[sikamalc]

So who dreamed this up ? And on the back of the DSC. Run by who? Assessed by who? And financially a great deal more money than DSC, in most cases £200 more. And in many cases a one day course?

From what I have seen of it, its a non starter, and in many cases run by people who have hardly any real experience, and been in the stalking game 5 minutes.

 

[Royal]

So who dreamed this up ? And on the back of the DSC. Run by who? Assessed by who? And financially a great deal more money than DSC, in most cases £200 more. And in many cases a one day course?

From what I have seen of it, its a non starter, and in many cases run by people who have hardly any real experience, and been in the stalking game 5 minutes.

Aye. I feel from a DSC perspective, having it run by somebody such as Glyn, who's stalked for 30+ years, was an absolute wealth of knowledge from a personal level, and covered far more than just the course content. That in, and of itself would be worth the course cost to me.

 

[T.eddie]

I've mentioned before, but a friend of mine had to go with PDS as part of his college course. DSC was not offered. So to be fair to PDS it is being recognised and seems to have some weight behind it

The market is obviously there for it and he's decided to jump in, fair play to him

 

[finnbear270]

I've mentioned before, but a friend of mine had to go with PDS as part of his college course. DSC was not offered. So to be fair to PDS it is being recognised and seems to have some weight behind it

The market is obviously there for it and he's decided to jump in, fair play to him

Slightly skewed field then, only one option.

 

[T.eddie]

Slightly skewed field then, only one option.

It did surprise me that DSC wasn't offered, no idea why but I'd hazard a guess that the ability to do it remotely is the deciding factor, maybe BDS would be offered in the future now they have their one

 

[User00056]

Followed by the complete lack of deer identification ability, which he was not given/taught

No doubt that'll be covered in the Advanced PDS

 

[nun_hunter]

Having these certs doesn't make anyone competent , its experience in the field that counts.

Certificates should quantify experience and knowledge.

20 years of doing the wrong thing and putting poor quality carcasses into the game dealer is far worse than someone with no experience but the right training and willingness to follow that training.

 

[timbrayford]

From what I have seen of it, its a non starter, and in many cases run by people who have hardly any real experience, and been in the stalking game 5 minutes.

Personally I wouldn't say that about Mike Allison at Jelen PWS, perhaps you had someone else in mind?

 

[jimmer.13]

So who dreamed this up ? And on the back of the DSC. Run by who? Assessed by who? And financially a great deal more money than DSC, in most cases £200 more. And in many cases a one day course?

From what I have seen of it, it’s a non starter, and in many cases run by people who have hardly any real experience, and been in the stalking game 5 minutes.

Have a read

PDS1 - PROFICIENT DEER STALKING CERTIFICATE

Proficient Deer Stalking Certificate Level 1 (PDS1) The Proficient Deer Stalking Certificate Level 1 (PDS1) is the UK's only Deer Stalking Qualification to prov...

www.countydeerstalking.co.uk

 

[LuckyEddie]

The test will be whenever some poor sod has an incident and offers this as way of showing they were doing things right.

What will the learned judiciary think and say then?

 

[jimmer.13]

The test will be whenever some poor sod has an incident and offers this as way of showing they were doing things right.

What will the learned judiciary think and say then?

As far as I’m aware neither course teaches you to do things wrong.
A bit like learning to drive and then taking your test.
Speeding or driving drunk for example is on you.

 

[LuckyEddie]

As far as I’m aware neither course teaches you to do things wrong.
A bit like learning to drive and then taking your test.
Speeding or driving drunk for example is on you.

Yes I know that, but I also know there are good examiners who fail people and there’s bad examiners who pass everyone no matter how badly they drive.

It would be interesting to see how many people actually fail the courses.
On the one I sat there was one lad who had to resit out of about 12.

 

[sikamalc]

Have a read

PDS1 - PROFICIENT DEER STALKING CERTIFICATE

Proficient Deer Stalking Certificate Level 1 (PDS1) The Proficient Deer Stalking Certificate Level 1 (PDS1) is the UK's only Deer Stalking Qualification to prov...

www.countydeerstalking.co.uk

Hmm same people.

 

[finnbear270]

Be interesting to watch how the numbers balance out in the future, DSC L1 & 2 holders against the PDS thing.
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