Shooting Times & Country Magazine
Stalkers’ concern over deer certificate change
The number of ‘witnessed stalks’ required for DSC2 could be reduced from three to one after a review by Deer Management Qualifications
Long-expected changes to the Deer Stalking Certificate (DSC) qualifications have proved controversial in the deerstalking community.
During 2019, Deer Management Qualifications (DMQ), the consortium that manages the qualifications, undertook a review of its structure and content. The review recommended a number of changes.
One relatively uncontroversial change is the decision to move the DMQ Trained Hunter qualification from DSC1 to DSC2. In effect, this means that only Dsc2-trained stalkers will be allowed to sell carcasses for human consumption. Those stalkers who already hold DSC1 will keep their trained hunter status. The DSC1 shooting test will also be changed, with a close-range ‘despatch shot’ added to the assessment.
Much more controversial is a change to the number of ‘witnessed stalks’ required to complete the level two qualification. Under the previous arrangement, DSC2 candidates had to be observed stalking, killing and gralloching three deer satisfactorily. Under the new arrangements, a single witnessed stalk is deemed to be sufficient as long as the stalker meets the performance criteria.
Among those questioning the wisdom of the move was professional deerstalker Malcolm Harman, who attacked the proposed change. “There is no way that undertaking one deer on a level two stalk is anywhere experienced enough,” he said.
“The fact, for instance, that taking one muntjac on a level two would be considered good enough is a joke in my book. The extraction of a larger species, such as a red or fallow buck, versus a muntjac is in itself a world apart. I have had one or two taking a level two that are nowhere near ready. Level two should be based on good, solid, field experience, coupled with what you learned on your level one and time in the field, building up experience.”
However, others pointed out that reducing witnessed stalks would cut costs and make the qualification more accessible. They also questioned why it was necessary to demonstrate the same skills three times.
Matt Cross
“The police were amazing. They came to us and made us feel safe, they patrolled our farm throughout the night and have helped set up security measures.”
Why: An anonymous Welsh farming family thanked the police after their lives and those of their two young children were threatened by activists. Their experience was reported by fellow Welsh farmer Gareth Wyn Jones.
THEY SAID WHAT
“That taking one muntjac on a level two would be considered good enough is a joke”