What do you have to do for DMQ2?
This assessment contains performance criteria (PC’s) about the correct selection of the animal, use of the correct safety procedures, humane killing of the selected animal, gralloching the animal, control of the animal and its gralloch, green offal and carcase inspection including lymph nodes for any diseases and finally, bringing the animal to the larder and preparing it hygienically for the game dealer.
This DMQ2 can be done anywhere in the world, but only with one of the six UK deer species and the whole process (the stalk, cull and gralloch) has to be done together with an Approved Witness (AW). In turn, one could hunt a Roe deer in Denmark or a Fallow in South Africa, for example.
You can shoot the animal from a highseat, but you also have to show that you can stalk an animal. So, for example, in the roebuck season you can stalk a roe doe to demonstrate meeting the stalking criteria for stalking but shoot a buck from a highseat. For an understanding of the remaining PC’s required your Individual Cull Record (ICR), please see:
In The Netherlands the shooting arrangements for DMQ2 are made through Adrian van Well; both on the continent and the UK, inlcuding on his own estate in Scotland. The costs are dependable on the number and / or species to be culled and the type of lodging that is required.
An example account of a DMQ2:
“In my own case I luckily was able to cull three red deer in one day” Aad explains. “We were awake early that morning, so I could go out together with my AW, Mark Duncan, Head Ranger from The Scottish Forestry Commission. The plan was to cull three female red deer (hind and calves) on our Scottish open hill area.
Before we started the stalk, I informed Mark of the animals which we were going to shoot; yelled hinds, or any poor hinds with a calf at foot. I steadied all my equipment and fired a shot on the target to check the scope and rifle. The rifle was zeroed perfectly, I had enough ammunition with me, the sling was well connected and the scope and moderator were in a good state. I had a cleaning cord for the barrel, my pair of binoculars, GPS, a good knife with a safe handle, waterproof and soundless Outfox clothing and some rubber gloves on me. Off we went, with Mark behind me and together with his young black lab we stalked uphill. A trained working dog is always important to have with you to find any wounded deer.
Quite soon I managed to bring myself into a good shooting position for a single stag. With this stalk I showed my AW, Mark, my ability to bring myself into a good and safe shooting position. An hour later, we crawled towards a group of stags. I informed Mark, which selection I would have made during the open shooting period for red stags. After a while we both came within shooting distance of a hind and calve. But, as they were feeding away on the skyline, I could not take a safe shot as there was no safe backstop. Again, I added a point on my test. I decided to cut round to be able to stalk against the wind to the Glen in front of me. Both Mark and I carefully looked to every bit of the hill. Suddenly I spotted a group of deer. Some single hinds, some hinds with a calf at foot and two stags. We both dropped on our knees and crawled to a pile of stones. From this point I carefully looked at the hinds and told Mark which one a wanted to shoot. First the calf and after that, if possible, to shoot the hind. I put the bipod out, loaded the rifle. I took my time so the calf stood broadside on and put the rifle on fire. I fired and reloaded the rifle straight away. The calf dropped at the spot. The hind ran slowly away from me.
It is important to know that the shot is placed on the right spot when you look through the scope and reload the rifle straight away. After this cull I waited fifteen minutes and carefully watched the calf. After this pause I carefully walked to the calf with a loaded rifle on safe. I checked with a piece of long heather that the calf was dead by touching the eyeball. Once I confirmed it dead, I unloaded the rifle and put it safely away with an open bolt. I took my knife out, put the gloves on and bled and gralloched all the deer. I inspected the deer on the outside (hooves, skin and body condition) and the inside. I inspected the green oval and organs for any diseases. Later that afternoon I managed to stalk, shoot and gralloch another hind and later another calve. So, the day ended perfectly! With my walkie talkie I called in our stalker, explained to him where we were and he drove up the hill with the Argo Cat. Back in the larder the carcases were weighted, cleaned, chest organs were inspected and hung up next to the carcass, and we filled in the game dealer's declaration with my name, DMQ number, date, time, location and with my remarks on the health of the animal as a trained hunter.
During the day's stalk, Mark Duncan asked me several questions to test my deer and safety knowledge. Mark was content with my performance during the day. Therefore, this DSC 2 assessment was almost concluded, however we also still needed to fill in the DSC 2 portfolio, in which we described the events during the day together with some of the questions during the day with its answers. When all three ICR’s were complete and the portfolio filled in and signed by my AW and myself, it was sent to Mary Fishburne at the BASC Deer Assessment Centre. A process of assessment by a DMQ assessor follows shortly thereafter.
When a portfolio is ready to be assessed, the Assessor will ensure that all the evidence required has been achieved and that the evidence is authentic.
Candidates and witnesses should expect to be telephoned by an Assessor who may ask a number of questions. If a portfolio has been poorly witnessed there may be a number of gaps in a candidate's evidence and to fill these an Assessor may have to ask an extensive number of questions.
When an Assessor is satisfied that the evidence presented to them is of sufficient standard to merit an award of DSC 2, they will sign off the portfolio and then forward the portfolio to an Internal Verifier. The Verifier will then double check the portfolio, but is really checking that the portfolio assessor has done a competent job and that his recommendation for an award is valid.
At this point the portfolio may be selected for external verification to ensure all of the forgoing and the Assessment Centre is fulfilling the DMQ requirements to the correct standard.
On some occasions this process might involve a Verifier calling a candidate or witness, however, this should not be expected. When the Verifier is satisfied with the standard of a portfolio, they also will sign it off and it is then returned to the Assessment Centre who will apply to DMQ for a DSC 2 Certificate to be issued.