NEWS
| Trained hunter DSC1 conversion facility withdrawn | 11 August 2008 |
| Following changes to food hygiene regulations in 2005, holders of older DCS 1 certificates (coloured buff) were able to convert their certificate to include “trained hunter” status for large game. DMQ announces that the facility to convert buff coloured DCS 1 certificates is to be withdrawn from 31st March 2009. No applications for conversion received after this date will be accepted. All DSC 1 certificates issued since 1st January 2006 (coloured blue) indicate that the holder is also designated a “trained hunter” (for large game only) under the food hygiene regulations; these certificates are not affected by the withdrawal of conversions. Any further applications (on which you need to confirm you have read the latest FSA Draft Wild Game Guide) should be sent to DMQ by 31st March 2009, Marford Mill, Rossett, Wrexham LL12 0HL, together with a cheque for £15. |
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| New Witness Guide published | 16 April 2008 |
| A new Guide has been published for both Accredited and Credible Witnesses. It is available as a PDF file for downloading, or from DMQ. The Guide contains advice on witnessing procedures, an example of a completed Individual Cull Record, and examples of questions that might be asked during a witnessed stalk. | |
| Changes to DSC1 Visual Assessment | 24 January 2008 |
| Candidates are shown 20 images covering the 6 species of wild deer in the UK. Now the species and the sex have to be identified for each image, and both must be correct to gain a mark. To pass, candidates must obtain at least 16 marks out of the possible 20. | |
| New DSC1 question banks | 17 October 2007 |
| Following changes to Game, and Deer, Laws in England
and Wales, question banks for DSC1 have been updated.
PDF versions can be downloaded via the following links: Written assessment Meat Hygiene assessment Safety assessment | |
| Bluetongue now in UK | 28 September 2007 |
| The notifiable disease Bluetongue has been confirmed
on farms in Suffolk. Information on Bluetongue, and the latest position,
can be found at the following website pages: DEFRA The Deer Initiative BASC BDS | |
| FMD restricts stalking activity. | 12 September 2007 |
| The latest case of FMD in Surrey has restricted stalking
activity once again. Guidance on the position in England can be found at the following websites: DEFRA The Deer Initiative BASC BDS Guidance on the position in Scotland can be found at: DCS In Wales the latest position can be found at: Welsh Assembly | |
| Changes to Deer laws and to Game laws | 10 August 2007 |
| An Order
which comes into force on 1 October 2007 will amend the Deer Act,
1991 in the following ways: 1. Allow the use of 0.22 centre fire rifles for shooting Muntjac & Chinese Water Deer; 2. Allow any reasonable means of humanely dispatching deer that are suffering due to illness or disease; 3. Allow dependent deer to be taken or killed if they have been, or are about to be, deprived of their mother, at any time of the year; 4. Enable licences to be issued to kill or take deer during the close season where there is a serious risk that the deer will cause deterioration of the natural heritage or there is a serious risk to public health and safety, provided there is no other satisfactory alternative; 5. Enable licences to be issued to kill or take deer at night for the reasons outlined in 4 above and to prevent serious damage to property provided there is no other satisfactory alternative. 6. Shorten the close season for female red, roe, sika and fallow deer by moving the commencement date to 1st April. 7. Introduce a close season for Chinese Water Deer and hybrid species from 1st April to 31st October inclusive. To maintain protection for female Chinese Water Deer the close season will also apply to males as it is difficult to distinguish between the two sexes. 8. Amend the meaning of mechanically propelled vehicle in the Deer Act to permit discharging of firearms or projecting missiles from a mechanically propelled vehicle that is stationary and the engine is not running. The licensing authorities will be Natural England and The Welsh Assembly Government in England and Wales respectively. An Order which came into force on 1 August 2007 removes requirements in England and Wales for venison to be sold only to game dealers and allows venison which was legally obtained to be sold in the Close Season. There will be no requirement to hold a Game licence in England or Wales. These changes will be reflected in assessments as the Orders come in to force |
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| DSC1 has gone Digital | 18 July 2007 |
| The Visual Assessment in DSC1 is now using digital images. Slide sets will still be available until 31 December 2007, but will then be withdrawn. | |
| DMQ is seeking the views of Accredited Witnesses on the operation of DSC2. | 14 May 2007 |
| DMQ are reviewing what we do with the intention of making
a number of changes in the coming months. Some of these are because
of impending changes to the law in England and Wales, others are intended
to keep the Deer Stalking Certificate standards robust. As part of
our review, we would like to include the views of Accredited Witnesses
and have produced this questionnaire to find out what they think about
our systems. Questionnaires have been sent out to all AWs during week beginning 14 May. |
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| Free newsletter from Forestry Commission | November 2006 |
| Those in the South East of England may wish to subscribe to the free newsletter from the FC, entitled "South East Woodland News". It contains much information about the management of deer and woodland, how to assess deer damage, deer recognition, and even recipes for food from the forest. To subscribe, email Jane.Hull@forestry.gsi.gov.uk | |
| Deer Commission accept DSC2 for Fit and Competent | |
| The Deer Commission for Scotland has accepted the DSC2 as evidence of competence in culling deer for inclusion on the Fit & Competent Register. The current proviso, however, is that only those awarded in the last 5 years are acceptable, as there is a DCS requirement for a 5 year review. DMQ and the DCS are discussing how to take this forward in the future. | |
| Latest Wild Game Guidance | |
| The latest FSA draft Wild Game Guide is available through this link. |
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Deer Management Qualifications © 2007 Company Number 3449049, Marford Mill, Rossett, Wrexham, LL12 0HL |  |