Deer stalkers are being invited to take part in specialist courses run by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC).
Carcass Inspection and Butchery courses will be run in Sevenoaks in Kent during February and March. One of the aims of the course is to teach candidates the skills required to undertake the basic carcass processing required for home butchery.
Dr Peter Marshall, BASC’s Director of Shooting Standards, said: “This is a one day course which will provide the less experienced stalker with a sturdy foundation of knowledge including safety and basic hygiene legislation. Practical aspects will include skinning, inspection and basic butchery techniques. Candidates will prepare a carcass under the supervision of the course tutors.” The cost of the course is £125.
Intermediate Deer Courses will be run in Sevenoaks, Kent, and in Stonor, Oxfordshire, over the coming weeks. They are designed as a step between Deer Stalking Certificate (DSC) levels 1 and 2. The two day courses will teach the skills required for the safe and humane shooting of deer plus retrieval, gralloching, carcass inspection and lardering techniques. They allow participants to be supervised on their first stalk and provide practical experience in preparing the carcass.
The format includes stalking deer and/or shooting from a high seat, taking the shot and reaction to shot, approaching the deer and follow up, extracting and transporting the carcass, plus gralloching and inspection to DSC 2 standards.
Candidates on the course, which costs £260, must be BASC members.
For further information and course dates, contact Anne Mellows, BASC Shooting Standards, on 01244 573018. ENDS