DEER STALKING: ARE YOU COMPETENT?

Posted on 12 October 2012

At present, in Scotland, there is no statutory requirement to hold qualifications in order to shoot deer, although Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) can require registration on their Fit and Competent Register for certain licence applications under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996.

Most people wishing to control deer under either an out of season or night shooting licence will need to register with SNH and evidence their competence, although owners or occupiers wishing to control deer to prevent damage generally do not need to register. Anyone wishing to control deer at night (under an 18(2) authorisation) must register with SNH.

To-date, the deer sector has been successfully self-regulating with many owners, occupiers and deer stalkers voluntarily achieving evidenced competency. Under the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act, Ministers now have reserved powers to introduce a compulsory test for competence and are due to undertake a review in 2014.

Ministers have challenged the deer sector to increase the level of voluntary take-up of deer qualifications prior to this review or face increased regulation and mandatory testing.

As well as professional stalkers, the Government is particularly keen to see farmers, crofters and others who shoot deer unaccompanied, whether for welfare, damage prevention and/or financial gain, to demonstrate competence.

The Deer Sector is keen to demonstrate that the need for additional regulation is not required and a variety of interested organisations have come together to form the Deer Sector Competence Working Group (DSCWG), which aims to promote voluntary competency.

The current Deer Stalking Certificate Level 1 (DSC1) or equivalent has been agreed as a valid demonstration of competence and Bowlts Chartered Surveyors are urging anyone who shoots deer unaccompanied in Scotland to gain this or a similar qualification - and would encourage early take-up rather than waiting until 2014. The DSC1 takes between 3 and 4 days and costs around £300.

Training centres have also indicated to the DSCWG that they may be willing to deliver courses in remote areas, away from their normal assessment centres, where there is demand.

For more details on the course and details of assessment centres in Scotland and England, visit the Deer Management Qualifications Ltd website. 

If you have questions regarding qualifications, deer management, whether you are required to register with SNH or any other deer related issues, please contact Tom Chetwynd by email or by phone on 01343 890400, who would be happy to offer advice and assistance.