The competency course, developed by the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) and approved by LANTRA, officially launched on Oct 10th in Perthshire (watch the launch video below and Subscribe to the SGA YouTube channel).
SGA members - and non-members- can now BOOK A PLACE by emailing training@scottishgamekeepers.co.uk
(Members receive 10% off HIK MICRO products, as part of our new partnership agreement)
The course launch comes after the Scottish Government changed the 1996 Deer Act to permit the use of thermal imaging and night vision scopes to cull deer at night; a historic change which came into being for the first time in November 2023.
However, it will focus on the use of such equipment for all legal wildlife management in darkness in Scotland, which includes foxes and feral pigs as well as deer.
‘Use of Thermal and Night Vision for Wildlife Management (Scotland)’ has been developed by the SGA’s dedicated Training Centre, which has delivered over 1000 recognised Deer Management qualifications in recent years, at levels 1 and 2
It is expected the practical and class-based course, which will carry a challenging pass mark of 80% in assessment, will attract gamekeepers, deer managers, forestry contractors and professionals involved in pest control during night hours.
Topics covered will include legal tests, best practice and safety, with participants handling a range of approved equipment provided by imaging partners, HIK MICRO - a leading worldwide optics supplier.
Reward for a successful candidate will be a nationally recognised certification of competence in the use of specialised equipment, encompassing species identification, animal behaviour observation at night and risk assessment.
The safety of the public is paramount, as is welfare of the quarry, and understanding the variables in the equipment such as heat readings, silhouette and pixelation will be a focus of the course.
Considerations such as ricochet, safe backstop, obstruction and foreground vegetation are all covered in practical and assessed sections.
The SGA, which represents thousands of professional wildlife managers in Scotland, has expressed concern around the ‘normalisation’ of night shooting for deer, telling the Scottish Government that last year’s law change ought to have specified training for users.
The organisation has now made good on its own guidance by providing competency training for those using night vision equipment for wildlife management.
“The new course is a big step for us. We want to encourage as many people as possible, who use this type of equipment, to sign up,” said SGA Training Manager, Alan Tweedie, who designed the course.
“Having a certification of competence will provide assurance for them and will help them, professionally. It also reassures potential employers or agencies that they are competent using such specialised equipment and can be trusted.
“For the public and for wildlife, this can only help in terms of safe, best practice usage, with animal welfare a key consideration. What we want to encourage is good, professional management where risks are properly assessed and considered before any shot is taken in the dark.”
The SGA wishes to thank imaging partners, HIK MICRO, and their suppliers, Scott Country International and Game and Country Ltd.
The organisation has also expressed its gratitude to night vision consultant John Henshall for resources and input into the course.
You don't have to be a member to Book a Course but, if you want to JOIN the SGA, click the link below (You can join, online, in minutes)
https://www.scottishgamekeepers.co.uk/members/membership.php
