Chris Nicholson
Hell’s Kitchen Farm 
Warwick

Dear Mr Stocker,

I would like to commend your training programmes for my successful DMQ1 and DMQ2 Certificates, considering my disability caused by a rare muscle cancer.

I came to you after 30 years absence from the stalking experiences in Scotland in the ‘70’s full of confidence, only to realise that there was so much to revise and that I had not the breadth of knowledge I gave myself credit for.

Deer indentification  is paramount when out stalking, all of which were covered superbly on your Course, as too knowledge of the Law and all its legal updates.

Your training on the Stalking & Taking the Shot brought me right up to date, particularly in judging safe ‘backdrop’ requirements. To be fair , without this awareness, one could easily take an unsafe shot had this not been a prominent part of the Course, as too, the Safety of gun handling. A loaded gun is lethal.

I had arrived with a ‘cannon’ , my .30.06, without a silencer, feeling quite competent but having forgotten the 30 year gap in my use of it. Thanks to you and your staff, not to mention your patience, I soon placed  the bullet on to the right spot. The relaxed, but precise, atmosphere on the Range with your Staff was encouraging.

Taking the final test in the Class Room found me relaxed and confident, and I passed with ‘flying colours’. Thanks to you I was then able to go forward to the DMQ2, an essential these days for stalking bookings in the UK and abroad.

DMQ2

This for me was the most valuable training after passing the DMQ1. To shoot and kill a deer humanely was brought home to me in this level of training. Again your professionalism, whether walking in woodland or open ground or up in a Seat, was paramount, and the practical aspect of gun safety, ‘backdrop’ awareness, choice of target and shot positioning brought me to a level of competence on each successive stalk.

The most important part of the training was choosing whether to shoot or not. You taught me the calmness needed in deciding whether to let a deer pass for the betterment of the species, or take out a weak or sickly beast.

Thanks to your training and support I  now travel the UK , and am welcomed everywhere with DMQ 1 and DMQ2 qualifications under my belt.

Whether a Novice or an experienced Stalker, the acquisition of these qualifications through your Courses is now so important as BASC continue to improve their programmes.

No one could do better than train with UK Deer Management to achieve the level of competence needed today. Thank you all : I am very grateful that you improved my ability . I have now had over 40 succesful stalks.

Kind regards

Chris Nicholson
Warwick