From Dave McCullough
British Deer Society’s New Approach to Deer Stalking Level One Certificate B
DS announced earlier this year that it was changing its strategy to delivering training and assessment for the Deer Stalking Certificate level 1 (DSC1). Irish Country Sports and Country Life sent me along to the first assessment day of this new training approach to be held in Ireland to review the new training package and to report on the response of the candidates. The training and assessment for DSC1 has previously required the trainee to attend two consecutive weekends of intensive training and assessment. The overall cost of this could be as much as £500 including travel and accommodation. The new training approach, which is open to everyone, is a computer-based home learning package culminating in a one day assessment programme based on the BDS’s Ultimate Deer Data DVD, which is the backbone of the package. This new approach is a response to feedback from candidates who had completed the two week end course, which is still available and to the emergence of cheaper and shorter courses from alternative training suppliers. The first assessment day on Irish soil was hosted and run by Damian McElholm, who is the BDS course manger for Northern Ireland and was held in Brookeborough, County Fermanagh on the 1st September. There were 11 candidates from all over Ireland, all of whom had been attracted by the convenience and flexibility of this new training approach and the opportunity to study at home in preparation for the assessment in their own time. Only one of the candidates declared that the reduced cost was a deciding factor in taking this route to his DSC1, but all agreed that they found the training materials for home learning very good. Some did report a problem with running the deer recognition section of the Deer Data DVD on their computers, but this was resolved by contacting BDS for advice.
Multi choice papers On the day, as the candidates arrived for an early 8.30 am start, there was a definite air of anxiety which Damian very quickly 82
Autumn 2012 Countrysports and Country Life
dispersed with his welcoming remarks and easy manner. His presentational style and the construction of his introduction to each of the three multi choice papers set all candidates at their ease and highlighted the importance of each topic to becoming a competent stalker. The papers were on deer recognition of the six species of deer found in the UK, large game meat hygiene and general knowledge of deer ecology, firearms and deer legislation. The completion of the papers ended the classroom session and the group moved to the 100 metre shooting range, located on the edge of a wood which opens onto open moorland. The location was ideal for both the shooting test and the all important simulated stalk and safety assessment. On arrival at the range, the group were met by Damian’s range officers, Martin Dunn and Sean McChrystal, who delivered a safety briefing to all participants and wasted no time in getting the first detail into position. The candidates were required to fire three shots into a 100 mm circle at 100metres to establish both that the rifle was zeroed and that the candidates were capable of accurate shooting. The firing points seemed to be designed to replicate typical ground which would be in stalking, such as lumps and bumps and lots of tussocks. Candidates used a range of bipods and rests and all coped well with the conditions, passing this test under the watchful eyes and friendly but firm guidance of the range officers. The next test was the firing of a series of six shots, two prone from 100metres, two sitting or kneeling from 70metres and finally two shots standing from 40 metres. This test was based strictly on heart and lung shots and The Class of September ‘12.