Training - lifestyle change

[paulbshooting]

Hello. Thinking about doing some seasonal work, ideally with red deer in Scotland. I will be 55 soon and have scaled back my non deer 'day job' with a plan to stop all together at some point soon.

Deer wise I have DSC 1 & 2 quals. I am first aid trained but for office and factory areas not outside. I stalk 4-5 times a week (lowland) and am fit and able. Cull and process a fair amount of deer per year and sell venison. Go to Scotland twice a year and keen to experience being there more.

This is about a lifestyle change not about money.

I assume a suitable first aid, argo / quad training / cert, chainsaw etc. But any advice on courses, quals and training companies to use or avoid would be most helpful. Thanks

 

[NullMac]

Well I have a mate who was looking for an under stalker. It’s hard to find the ‘right sort of person’ particularly where he is.

If he is anything to go by then your problem is he wanted someone 25 not 55 as the Red Hind cull is physically hard work day in day out in shite winter conditions and the Stags seem to include long periods standing in the wind and rain with water running down yer crack. Across the piece it is a tough job not a lot of fun.

So they are turned off by ‘every certificate under the sun’ to use his words. Yes some certificates are essential for insurance, health and safety etc but in his view certificates do not reflect the experience and competence he is looking for. Can you drive the Argo in real conditions, can you look after the ponies?

A few deer a year is different from 150 every year. Doing it for your own gratification is different from taking clients out for your daily drama but still keeping them happy. Carcass handling standards and speed of handling need to be professional, for him at least. Being able and willing to learn is a key attribute, it is hard to find people with all the right skills for the particular job and a lot of the 25 year olds don’t seem to have the work ethic or the ability to pick things up quickly.

In my experience one key difference between the pro and the amateur is the pro can shoot. Really shoot. Practical field shooting.

I am not saying it is impossible, and I am not trying to discourage you but there are people with your profile trying to do exactly this and these are one set of objections.

Good luck

 

[paulbshooting]

Well I have a mate who was looking for an under stalker. It’s hard to find the ‘right sort of person’ particularly where he is.

If he is anything to go by then your problem is he wanted someone 25 not 55 as the Red Hind cull is physically hard work day in day out in shite winter conditions and the Stags seem to include long periods standing in the wind and rain with water running down yer crack. Across the piece it is a tough job not a lot of fun.

So they are turned off by ‘every certificate under the sun’ to use his words. Yes some certificates are essential for insurance, health and safety etc but in his view certificates do not reflect the experience and competence he is looking for. Can you drive the Argo in real conditions, can you look after the ponies?

A few deer a year is different from 150 every year. Doing it for your own gratification is different from taking clients out for your daily drama but still keeping them happy. Carcass handling standards and speed of handling need to be professional, for him at least. Being able and willing to learn is a key attribute, it is hard to find people with all the right skills for the particular job and a lot of the 25 year olds don’t seem to have the work ethic or the ability to pick things up quickly.

In my experience one key difference between the pro and the amateur is the pro can shoot. Really shoot. Practical field shooting.

I am not saying it is impossible, and I am not trying to discourage you but there are people with your profile trying to do exactly this and these are one set of objections.

Good luck

Thanks, that all makes sense. I am realistic ref my age and lack of experience. More keen to help out for a few weeks / months than full time. Got some friends and other contacts to follow up but wanted to make sure I have and can do the necessary ref courses so that's not a blocker.

 

[Donkey Basher]

Forget the paper quals - get yourself a language app so you can speak the lingo

 

[Malxwal]

Seasonal ghillie stuff might be better ? Bit of pony handling and Argo driving ?

 

[NickJ]

Hello. Thinking about doing some seasonal work, ideally with red deer in Scotland. I will be 55 soon and have scaled back my non deer 'day job' with a plan to stop all together at some point soon.

Deer wise I have DSC 1 & 2 quals. I am first aid trained but for office and factory areas not outside. I stalk 4-5 times a week (lowland) and am fit and able. Cull and process a fair amount of deer per year and sell venison. Go to Scotland twice a year and keen to experience being there more.

This is about a lifestyle change not about money.

I assume a suitable first aid, argo / quad training / cert, chainsaw etc. But any advice on courses, quals and training companies to use or avoid would be most helpful. Thanks

The quals you mention plus manual handling. The relevant first aid one is EFAW+F the F standing for Forestry

I see you are in Hampshire, Sparsholt might run some?

 

[JockStalk]

After 50 I found the important qualification for a good day on the hill was Nurofen 1 & 2

 

[opticron1]

As well as keeping an eye on the employment opportunities on this here web site, it might be worth keeping an eye on the Rural Recruits website/facebook pages as they throw some interesting jobs up at times.