waz77

What an absolute 🔔 🔚

No mate, I live up on the moors now, Penistone was getting too overpopulated for me 😂

A few years ago but the materials for this cost around £1500, plus hydraulic pack, I'd been quoted £6500 to have one built the same so did it myself in about 5 days

I've worked for firms who did this and did it myself when I had my own business after giving the guys the option, basically they were paid an amount per day to cover average fuel use, maintenance costs and the cost of a new saw over the average lifespan of a saw, if they looked after their kit, which they tend to do when it's their own, they came out on top money wise and they got to choose their own kit as long as it was fit for purpose. One potential pitfall is who covers the cost if it gets stolen from a secured van if you provide the vehicle

Bob's retired, maybe that's the problem 🤔

Does he still come on here? I've not been on here for years

Pds1 is the Lantra course, dsc is more recognised in stalking circles although lantra is obviously bigger/better known in land based training circles

Dsc 1 is definitely worthwhile if you plan to get into stalking, it will give you fairly good knowledge about deer, law etc, and some places will want to see evidence of it to book a stalk, think of it like cs30/31, you don't have to have it to fell a tree, but if you plan on doing it a lot it's definitely a good idea to have it

Yes some feo's try anything in the book to avoid issuing fac's, ours here like to try and make their own rules up as they go along, but as you say it's nowhere in ho guidelines, only the requirement to have good reason, so might insist on proof of a booked stalk or letter of permission from landowner to control deer

Yes, very difficult to get in England, in Scotland they hand their version out like sweets, you just need to be on SNH fit and Competent register which is a simple email if you have L1&2. Regarding needing dsc 1&2 to stalk, you don't need either, some lease holders might request it but if you are going out with a guide as a paying guest you will rarely require it.

It's about to get a lot worse too with FLS deciding not to renew stalking leases in Scotland where a lot of stalkers rely on for their stalking ground, in favour of night shooting with contractors, a step closer for wee kranky to stop recreational shooting altogether

Yes you could do, most of my meat is what I've shot myself, swap some venison for home reared pork from the neighbour, as said getting a fac at present is a long drawn out process, but you can use an estate rifle until you get your own sorted, there's plenty of places charging around £80-£100 a stalk, you'd usually pay extra for the carcass, an average sized roe around £40, you usually only need dsc if you're taking on a lease of your own although a few might want you to have L1

07807 124460

Dave Blaikie does forestry winching, bit over kill but I guess it would cover you