SAFETY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS The Safety Assessment will comprise 10 questions selected from the 24 questions listed below. In England (or lowland situations) only one Question will be selected from the second section. Question 11 and either Question 9 or 10 will be compulsory in all Assessments and Question 20 and 21 compulsory in all Highland Assessments. All selected Questions must be answered correctly to the standard stated.
QUESTIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL STALKERS QUESTION
1. The candidate is told that he has just arrived at his stalking ground and is met by a friend who is to accompany him. The examiner [representing the friend] asks to examine the candidate's new rifle, which may be in a case or slip.
Candidate must demonstrate safe weapon handling with a deer-stalking rifle:
• Candidate to demonstrate muzzle awareness at all times
• Candidate to open bolt
• Physically check that the chamber and magazine/magazine housing are clear
• Show that the weapon is clear and obtain confirmation before handing it over with bolt open.
DMQ Standard is: Demonstrate all four actions correctly.
QUESTION 2. How should you carry your rifle while stalking alone in woodland?
Candidate must demonstrate complete safe handling when stalking. Points should include:
• Muzzle awareness demonstrated at all times.
• Rifle is fully loaded and charged - (to be covered by Questioning)
• Safety catch applied and periodically checked
• Slings and swivels in good working order
DMQ Standard is: Demonstrate all four actions correctly.
QUESTION 3. If there are three or more people stalking together, what extra precautions are required to ensure safety in the following circumstances? Candidate must demonstrate knowledge of what precautions to implement.
a. When all the party are stalking together.
• One leader must be nominated from the party.
• Person in front must carry the ONLY loaded rifle.
b. When the party are stalking separately. All must be aware of overall plan and contingencies
• Allocate clear areas of operation/boundaries and no straying
• All party to know where all others are whenever party is split up.
• All are aware as to how communications are to be used if available i.e. mobile phones or estate radios
• All are aware of the designated rendezvous point and the time window to await arrival before instigating emergency procedures.
• All are aware of the plan for using other methods of signalling in an emergency, i.e.
• Use of whistle,
• Use of rifle to fire a series of shots into a safe area
• Displaying a high visibility vest or panel
• All must know predetermined plan if the weather suddenly turns bad or visibility is seriously reduced
• All must know time of last shot
DMQ Standard is: Correctly give both answers to circumstance (a) plus Correctly give three answers to circumstance (b)
QUESTION 4. You have to crawl to get within range of your quarry - what three safety precautions should you implement?
Candidate must demonstrate knowledge of the actions to be taken to ensure complete safe handling. Points should include:
• Ensure that at no time anyone can get into the line of fire whilst crawling.
• Guard against accidental discharge by approaching with an empty chamber or protecting the safety catch and trigger.
• Protect against an obstructed barrel by using extreme care or using tape to shield the muzzle.
DMQ Standard is: Correctly give three answers.
QUESTION 5. Knives are dangerous and can easily cause serious accidents, how can the risks be minimised?
Candidate must explain the actions to be taken. Points should include:
a. Whilst being carried
• Ensure that there is a lock blade on any folding knife
• Never carry opened knife in a pocket.
• Ensure that any fixed blade knife is secured in a sheath
• Use a sheath with a protective insert or made from imperious impenetrable material
b. Whilst in use
• Ensure animal is dead before opening or unsheathing a knife
• Use a sharp and clean knife
• Never use undue force or haste
• Cut away from yourself
• Use protective glove
DMQ Standard is: Correctly give two answers to circumstances (a) and (b).
QUESTION 6. What two safety precautions must be observed before climbing into a high seat? Candidate must demonstrate knowledge of how to climb up and down from a high seat.
• Check seat for condition i.e. in proper repair, no sabotage, tampering and secure
• Unload rifle to climb up or down
DMQ Standard is: Correctly give both answers.
QUESTION 7. While crawling towards a deer you plug your barrel with mud or frozen snow - what should you do?
Candidate must demonstrate knowledge of what to do if barrel becomes plugged.
• Unload rifle completely
• Clear obstruction and clean barrel with correct equipment for task.
• Reload
• If cleaning kit is not carried then abandon stalk
DMQ Standard is: Correctly give all four answers.
QUESTION 8. You take over the stalking rights on a new piece of ground before going out stalking what must you do? Candidate must demonstrate the knowledge of what to do prior to stalking on new ground.
• *Study maps and learn exact boundaries
• *Find out where high-risk areas are e.g. footpaths, roads, and houses
• Find out who else might be expected on the ground e.g. farm workers or contractors
• Where pheasants/farm stock are kept and regularly fed
• Where ground allows safe shooting and best lines of approach to it
• Where ground appears unsafe i.e. high seats may be required.
DMQ Standard is: Both answers marked * plus one other.