BDS launch online learning course in bid to train more deer managers

For the first time, The British Deer Society (BDS) has made the learning aspect of their entry-level deer stalking qualification fully online. 
In an attempt to dramatically increase the number of individuals trained each year, the BDS has blended the Deer Stalking Certificate Level 1 (DSC1) qualification to combine the flexibility of online learning with the rigour of in-person assessment.
Participants will now complete the learning component of the DSC1 on the BDS’s dedicated training platform which will include video presentations, digitised resources, and interactive quizzes. This will be followed by an in-person assessment day at one of the assessment centres situated in Royston, Bristol, and Altyre.
Head of Training and Education at the BDS, Nick Rout, said: “We have worked hard to develop a course that meets the demands of modern learners without sacrificing the high standards we’ve always maintained.”
“The in-person assessment day, with support from the training team, ensures that our welfare and competency standards, which are key to deer management, remain intact.”
“Our new format will help reduce the financial and logistical barriers to entry that many individuals face when pursuing professional qualifications in deer management.”