what is DSC1 and DSC2?

[daven]

Hey folks,
what are these two certifications (what makes them up)? Getting a German hunting license was pretty in depth (diseases, breeding, how many teeth does each animal have, hunting dog keeping and knowledge, yadda yadda.....
How do you folks get this certification? Is there online classes or(?) ? Not up there with you folks but would like to do the certification anyway... even if it's just learning the material...

Thanks, Dave

 

[jcampbellsmith]

http://www.dmq.org.uk/ Regards JCS

 

[daven]

Just a quick look but it looks pretty much the same... Is the test/certification online and free (understand classes would cost, but if you already have the knowledge)?... Or, did I miss something on the website?

 

[Johno100]

I think one point is in the UK DSC 1 and DSC 2 are not a legal requirement to go stalking where as in many EU countries a hunting license is obligatory and an FAC will not be issued until you have the license , this may seem like a good idea on the surface but unless courses are run by a government agency and fees are at a realistic rate then I`m against it happening in the UK.( a 3 day course in Spain is around £70 ).

 

[Johno100]

Just a quick look but it looks pretty much the same... Is the test/certification online and free (understand classes would cost, but if you already have the knowledge)?... Or, did I miss something on the website?

Try £280 - £300 for DSC1 AND £600 - £1200 FOR DSC 2!!!!

A nice little earner for many including "charities".

 

[daven]

can cost a couple thousand euro here and a straight 3 week course minimum... Got mine thru the military and had abbreviated classes but the same test proctored by german officials at a cost of $250..... This all had to be done before applying for a license....

 

[Johno100]

can cost a couple thousand euro here and a straight 3 week course minimum... Got mine thru the military and had abbreviated classes but the same test proctored by german officials at a cost of $250..... This all had to be done before applying for a license....

I would not like to see that here , it would become an elite sport , if you are on a low income in the UK sufficient can be learnt with some voluntary work and home studying.

 

[daven]

It is an elite thing here and attitudes reflect it real bad........ Live in the middle of prime hunting land but the local hunters look down their noses at us "quick course" guys....

 

[jimbo1984]

What is dsc 1 & 2 ..... Depends who you're asking the guys who run the courses and make a living from them or the guys who have to pay ... I would hate to see them become compulsory here we have enough legislation without adding more

 

[Pine Marten]

I would not like to see that here , it would become an elite sport , if you are on a low income in the UK sufficient can be learnt with some voluntary work and home studying.

Not that I'm advocating mandatory tests, we have burdensome enough regulation on firearms as it is (although not much comparatively on actual hunting), but there's a mandatory hunting test on France too and at the entry level, it's really not very elitist at all there. But the test is nothing like as thorough as in Germany, where the Jaegerpruefung is at the other end of the scale. I'm amazed when I speak to hunters in France by the extent to which you can pass the theory test (similar to driving theory in setup) with almost no understanding of the subject matter. You just learn the answers. Not that this is general, but you do encounter a remarkable level of ignorance sometimes.

 

[jimbo1984]

Not that I'm advocating mandatory tests, we have burdensome enough regulation on firearms as it is (although not much comparatively on actual hunting), but there's a mandatory hunting test on France too and at the entry level, it's really not very elitist at all there. But the test is nothing like as thorough as in Germany, where the Jaegerpruefung is at the other end of the scale. I'm amazed when I speak to hunters in France by the extent to which you can pass the theory test (similar to driving theory in setup) with almost no understanding of the subject matter. You just learn the answers. Not that this is general, but you do encounter a remarkable level of ignorance sometimes.

Funny you should say that pm I thought similar when I went to canada they have an online education course and I thought it was very good in depth including all laws safety and species recognition for small and big game it wasn't at all expensive but was interesting , it is a mandatory course though over there ,

 

[Cris]

I think we have our approach to training al wrong in the UK. It should be mandatory but at an affordable level with central body making sure the correct standards are achieved.

Some of this we have but especially with level two it is for some both time and financially hard to justify or indeed achieve.

I know for some it has become a useful source of income but lower the cost and more would take the courses. Don't also forget equivalent courses offered in full time education establishments that are more comprehensive than the DSC that many young people are taking.

 

[Johno100]

I think we have our approach to training al wrong in the UK. It should be mandatory but at an affordable level with central body making sure the correct standards are achieved.

Some of this we have but especially with level two it is for some both time and financially hard to justify or indeed achieve.

I know for some it has become a useful source of income but lower the cost and more would take the courses. Don't also forget equivalent courses offered in full time education establishments that are more comprehensive than the DSC that many young people are taking.

Dont forget mature students as well , your never to old to learn

 

[Erik Hamburger]

Dont forget mature students as well , your never to old to learn

Funny you say that, I have met quite a few long-in-the-teeth stalkers who insist experience is all that matters and courses and qualifications are a waste of time and money and 'don't mean nothing' Hmm.

Basicly the stalking world in the UK has two camps: Those that have or aspire to have qualifications and endorse them, and those that don't and refuse to get them and are derisory about them.

 

[Johno100]

Funny you say that, I have met quite a few long-in-the-teeth stalkers who insist experience is all that matters and courses and qualifications are a waste of time and money and 'don't mean nothing' Hmm.

Basicly the stalking world in the UK has two camps: Those that have or aspire to have qualifications and endorse them, and those that don't and refuse to get them and are derisory about them.

Times have changed and a newcomer looking for employment without qualifications will get no where , even experienced stalkers can get overlooked if they dont have any paperwork , a lot of it is down to liability and PC , you can imagine the PC anti mob asking the Forestry Commission and the likes " So you employed someone to cull lovely furry animals who had no formal training or qualifications , surely that`s criminal ,? if not lets get the law changed "

Would be countryside / estate managers can train at any age , if you have a missus and kids you can get paid a load to take up full time education ...no upper age limits.

 

[Cris]

Dont forget mature students as well , your never to old to learn

Quite right as I was a mature student when I went to Sparsholt full time to study Game and Wildlife Managment for three years.

 

[jimbo1984]

Funny you say that, I have met quite a few long-in-the-teeth stalkers who insist experience is all that matters and courses and qualifications are a waste of time and money and 'don't mean nothing' Hmm.

Basicly the stalking world in the UK has two camps: Those that have or aspire to have qualifications and endorse them, and those that don't and refuse to get them and are derisory about them.

No not really I've been stalking for a few years and was shown the ropes by a prostalker , I did the level 1 as I was looking into getting a fc lease as it happened I picked up some other permission , I'd already been stalking quite a while when I did level 1 and I dint feel I learned that much new stiff from it , I've always said its good for a total newcomer to the sport but if you've had a fair but if experiance I feel it's value is limited , so tell me which camp do I sit in?

I must say I'm very surprised at your answer after seeing your sign off at the bottom of the page

 

[Johno100]

As far as I know DSC1 & 2 are not recognized as official qualifications , they are just accepted by some police forces as proof of having basic stalking knowledge thus allowing a centre fire rifle FAC for that purpose.

Theres no reason why any credible deer related business could not start doing its own training courses and issuing their own certificate at the end of it , the police would then have to accept this as having had professional stalking training , this could be cheaper than current DSC prices , any takers ?

Competition is good!

 

[alberta boy]

Funny you should say that pm I thought similar when I went to canada they have an online education course and I thought it was very good in depth including all laws safety and species recognition for small and big game it wasn't at all expensive but was interesting , it is a mandatory course though over there ,

Thats a fairly recent program and your right , it is quite good. I took my hunter training course in school ( I was 14) I even got diploma credits for it. It was one of the few classes where I actually paid attention lol. To be honest the online course is much easier to access , but it doesn't cover as much material as the old course.

AB

 

[willie_gunn]

As far as I know DSC1 & 2 are not recognized as official qualifications , they are just accepted by some police forces as proof of having basic stalking knowledge thus allowing a centre fire rifle FAC for that purpose.

The can I perhaps suggest that you read the following:

The National Occupational Standards (NOS), which is part of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, define the standards of performance individuals must achieve when carrying out functions in the workplace, together with specifications of the underpinning knowledge and understanding.

LANTRA is the Sector Skills Council for land-based and environmental industries, which includes deer management. LANTRA, which is licensed by the government, maintains the NOS for the game and wildlife sector nationally.

Deer Management Qualifications (DMQ) maintains the Deer Stalking Certificate (DSC) standard, quality assures the assessment process, and administers the awards.

DSC1 and DSC2 are nationally recognised qualifications measured against these NOS, and the certificates are awarded by DMQ.

Theres no reason why any credible deer related business could not start doing its own training courses and issuing their own certificate at the end of it , the police would then have to accept this as having had professional stalking training , this could be cheaper than current DSC prices , any takers ?


Competition is good!

Indeed, and any deer related business can set up their own training. But for their training to be externally recognised as credible it would need to be measured against some form of standard and objective criteria.....such as the NOS.

There are alternatives already, such as the St Hubert's Club (St. Hubert Club training), whose training is accepted as being at least equivalent to the same defined standard as DSC2.

If you want to go direct to the sources of the above, see this: Lantras N.O.S. | bestpracticeguides and this: Setting Standards | The Deer Initiative and this: DMQ - Setting the standard for wild deer management and this: About National Occupational Standards (NOS)

willie_gunn