Deer Management Certificate Assessments

DMQ Ltd is proud to announce the launch of a new qualification to complement its nationally recognised Deer Stalking Certificates 1 & 2 on 01 June 2023.

With the increased emphasis on the need to manage deer populations across the UK this qualification is aimed at anyone who is responsible for making decisions about deer management.

As such it will be of value to those who are directly responsible for the management of deer populations and equally those whose focus may be other aspects of land management but who need to oversee deer management to ensure their prime objectives are achieved.

The assessments for the certificate are arranged as follows:

Theory Assessment

This is a written paper of a number of short answer questions drawn from a bank of questions and one case study. The selected questions will be appropriate to the location with a lowland or highland bias, deer management covering the following main areas.

  1. Understand the ecology and dynamics of deer populations.
  2. Understand how deer can affect different land use objectives.
  3. Create a practical and relevant deer management plan.

There is 2-hour time limit for the written paper – Closed book no resources allowed completed under supervised invigilation.

1 hour time limit for the case study paper – Open book resources allowed completed under supervised invigilation.

If a candidate fails the written paper they must re-sit a different paper;  they may not re-sit the assessment on the same day as they failed the original theory assessment.

The pass mark for this assessment is Pass 50%, Merit 60% & Distinction 75%.

DMQ Admin will hold the assessment paperwork and this will be issued to assessment centres who should request the assessment paperwork at least 6 weeks prior to assessment date.

Award of the DMQ Deer Management Certificate

There is no limit to the number of times that candidates may attempt the assessments during the 3 year registration period.

All the marked assessments need to be with DMQ within 5 weeks of the date of the assessment.  This is to facilitate DMQ undertaking verification of the grades prior to award.

Under normal circumstances a DMQ DMC certificate, should be with the candidate within a maximum of 10 weeks after assessment.

Current DMQ DMC Centres

British Association for Shooting  and Conservation (BASC) Marford Mill
Rossett
Wrexham
LL12 0HL
01244 573018 Jane Sherlock
British Deer Society British Deer Society
The Walled Garden
Burgate Manor
Fordingbridge
Hants SP6 1EF
01425 655434 Dawn Cope

Deer Management Best Practice

Deer Management Best Practice can be found at:

England & Wales – https://www.thedeerinitiative.co.uk/best_practice/

Scotland – https://bestpracticeguides.org.uk/