Woodland Mammal Damage & Impact Assessment Course

Welcome to the Woodland Mammal Damage & Impact Assessment Course, a first-of-its-kind, e-learning course designed to give you the skills, understanding, and confidence to assess and interpret the damage & impact caused by woodland mammals. Whether you're a stalker, land manager, or conservationist, this course gives you a deeper understanding into the ecology behind mammal pressure and how to apply that knowledge in the field.

Developed by WildTrakPro and delivered through the Shooting & Hunting Academy, this course enables you to collect meaningful data, make informed management decisions, and communicate ecological impacts with clarity and authority.

Why Choose the Woodland Mammal Damage & Impact Assessment Course?

Today’s land management demands more than observation; it requires ecological understanding. Woodland mammals such as deer, squirrels, and wild boar can alter woodland structure, affect biodiversity, and damage commercial forestry. But identifying those changes and proving their impact isn’t always straightforward.

This course has been specifically designed to improve the quality and quantity of ecological data collected in the field, giving participants the tools to identify, assess, and present mammal-induced damage in a structured and evidence-based way.

Led by Oliver Smith, one of the UK’s leading mammal impact advisors, the course is fully online, nationally recognised, and built for flexible, at-your-own-pace learning.

Course Structure

The Woodland Mammal Damage & Impact Assessment Course is structured into six clear, user-friendly modules, each broken down into focused classes and followed by a short assessment to reinforce learning.

Whether you're looking to upskill professionally or simply deepen your understanding of ecological impact, this course offers a practical route to better-informed land management decisions.

Course Modules Overview

Module 1: Introduction
• Class 1: Introduction
• Class 2: Who Are WildTrakPro?
• Class 3: What is Damage & Impact Assessment

Module 2: The Different Types of Impact Assessment
• Class 1: The Different Types of Impact Assessment
• Class 2: Cost Benefit Analysis
• Class 3: Testing & Techniques

Module 3: Why Nearest Neighbour?
• Class 1: Why Nearest Neighbour?
• Class 2: Defining & Developing a Nearest Neighbour Test
• Class 3: Nearest Neighbour Example

Module 4: Types of Mammal Damage & Impact
• Class 1: Types of Damage by Species
• Class 2: Species
• Class 3: Types of Damage and Impact by Mammals
• Class 4: Examples of Damage & Impact

Module 5: WS1 & WS3
• Class 1: WS1 – Deer Control & Management
• Class 2: WS3 – Squirrel Control & Management
• Class 3: 'Do’s & Don’ts'

Module 6: Where to Go From Here
• Class 1: Equipment
• Class 2: Where to Go From Here
• Class 3: Final Words

Key Benefits

This course provides essential training in mammal impact assessment, including:

• Clear identification of different types of woodland damage by species
• In-depth understanding of ecological impact and habitat response
• Hands-on knowledge of assessment techniques like Nearest Neighbour analysis
• Real-world examples to support learning
• Guidance on WS1 and WS3
• A structured approach to writing and presenting professional damage data

Why this Course is Essential

In today’s changing rural landscape, those tasked with managing woodland ecosystems must be able to demonstrate not only what they’re managing, but why, and with evidence to support their approach.

The Woodland Mammal Damage & Impact Assessment Course gives you the tools to do just that. With industry-leading training from a recognised authority, flexible digital delivery, and real-world relevance, this course prepares you to make better decisions for the land you manage and to defend them with knowledge and clarity.

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Gralloching & Inspection Course

For the first time ever, you’ll see, and experience clear footage of each step taken during an entire ground and suspended gralloch. Utilising never before seen, revolutionary medical-grade camera footage, that reveals every critical incision and internal detail of the gralloching and inspection process.

Enrol today for just £125:

The course covers all the essential theory, practical techniques and latest industry standards, to give you the knowledge, confidence, and professionalism required to become a qualified 'trained hunter'. Whether you're building your career or sharpening your gralloching skills, this is the ultimate step forward.

Modules include:
Module 1: Post-stalk Considerations
Module 2: The Gralloch (both Suspended & Ground)
Module 3: Internal Inspection
Module 4: Preparation for End Consumer
Module 5: Final Exam

If you take deer management seriously, you already understand that your responsibilities don’t end when you squeeze the trigger. What happens next—the follow-up, gralloch, inspection, and preparation of the carcass—is just as important as the shot itself. It’s these stages that define not only the quality of the venison produced, but also your professionalism, ethical standards, and competence as a deer stalker and trained hunter. This course has been specifically designed to bridge the critical gap between taking the shot and entering the food chain, showing you exactly how to handle a deer carcass in a way that is humane, hygienic, legal, and safe.

Whether you’re preparing for your PDS2 or DSC2 qualification or just beginning your journey into deer stalking, this structured training provides the practical, hands-on knowledge required to do the job properly. Through clear, instructional video demonstrations and expert tuition from Mike Allison, CEO of Jelen Premier Wildlife Services, you’ll learn how to carry out both ground and suspended gralloch techniques with confidence and precision.

Alongside the physical process, the course also teaches you how to identify signs of disease, maintain food hygiene standards and meet legal and safety obligations in the field. Every aspect has been considered and developed to ensure you gain the skills and understanding necessary to carry out a full, compliant gralloch—making this course the ideal foundation for those seeking formal qualification or simply striving for best practice in the field.

Click on the following link to enrol on the course today for just: £125-00.
gralloching-and-inspection-course

Advanced Deer Management Course

Nationally recognised · LANTRA accredited · Now available fully online

Having successfully run for over a decade, the nationally recognised and LANTRA accredited Advanced Deer Management Course continues to set the standard for professional deer management training. This highly regarded course is designed for those who want to advance their knowledge and understanding of deer control and management at a professional level, looking not only from the deer stalker’s perspective but also through the lens of estate management.

For the first time ever, the course is available fully online, making it more accessible than ever while retaining the same depth, quality and practical understanding that have made it so respected. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the complex relationships between biodiversity, land use, forestry and deer populations, and learn how these can be managed in balance, without harm to habitats or wildlife.

Who the course is for

This course is ideally suited to:

• People with some experience in deer management or those who work alongside deer management to gain a broader understanding.
• Those seeking a career in professional deer and wildlife management.
• Land agents, estate managers and owners who wish to better understand what deer management is to help reduce agricultural and forestry crop damage, take advantage of Forestry Commission Woodland Grant Schemes (WS1), or increase estate income while safeguarding natural resources.

Course format

• Delivery: Fully online (previously classroom/field delivered content retained and adapted for online delivery)
• Accreditation: LANTRA accredited
• Assessment: Module-based learning with a Final Exam (Module 17).

The course combines critical classroom theory with practical, field-informed knowledge and is structured so that learners can apply modern deer management principles in real-world estate settings.

What you will learn (overview)

Participants will develop skills and knowledge across a broad range of topics essential to modern deer management, including (but not limited to):

• The role of deer within the wider wildlife context and trophic cascades
• Land designations and their implications for management
• Damage identification and impact assessment
• Habitat management and manipulation for control
• Deer management planning (from concept to delivery) and WS1 applications
• Population and meta-population dynamics
• Census techniques and the value of a deer census
• Cull and observation record-keeping, large-scale and intensive culling operations
• On-the-hoof ageing, cull selection and genetic improvement
• Reproductive assessment and deer health surveillance across wild, park and farmed populations
• Venison production
• Shot placement, reaction & effects

Course modules

1. Module 1: Introduction to Deer Management
2. Module 2: Deer Management - The Basics
3. Module 3: Understanding Deer Control & Management
4. Module 4: Management Approaches - Upland & Lowland
5. Module 5: Deer Damage
6. Module 6: Selection Criteria
7. Module 7: Culling Operations
8. Module 8: Shot Placement, Reaction & Effects
9. Module 9: Venison Production
10. Module 10: Impacts of Deer on Woodland Biodiversity
11. Module 11: Sustainable Deer Management Planning
12. Module 12: Population Dynamics
13. Module 13: The Value of a Deer Census
14. Module 14: Deer Impact Assessment
15. Module 15: Deer Health Assessment
16. Module 16: Deer Farming & Park Management
17. Module 17: Final Exam

About the instructor

Mike Allison - Managing Director of Jelen Premier Wildlife Services (Jelen PWS) and one of the UK’s foremost deer management specialists. Mike brings nearly five decades of professional experience across wild, park and farmed deer sectors, delivering conservation-led deer management solutions throughout the UK and Europe.

Mike is an experienced trainer who has guided many trainees into significant industry roles. He developed Europe’s first LANTRA Approved course in Live Capture, Immobilisation and Live Animal Care and has an extensive record of delivering practical, field-based training to build confidence and professional competence.

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How to Apply for a Firearm Certificate in the UK

Firearms Licensing - We explain how to make an application for a firearms Certificate. 

If you need advice how to get a Firearm Licence in the UK, then the following is designed as a guide to making a Firearms application for the purpose of hunting and stalking deer.

For those new to shooting, or for those only familiar with Shotgun Certificates, the process of obtaining a Firearm Certificate can at first appear confusing.

The fundamental thing to understand when applying for a firearm Licence is that the Police are not obliged to issue you with a certificate, and will not do so, unless you are of good character, have no mental health issues and have provided them with sufficient evidence and good reason to possess one. Even upon having been issued with a certificate, unlike a shotgun certificate, the police may still seek to apply conditions on the holder of the licence restricting the manner in which a firearm may be used.

Unlike Firearms, holders of Shotgun certificates, are entitled - subject to using the gun safely and in line with UK legislation, to purchase a number of shotguns. They are also entitled to use the shotgun safely on any land on which they have permission to shoot. Firearm Certificates are often quite different and the legislation restricting the use of a firearm is considerably more complex. Just because an individual has been granted an FAC does not mean that they can obtain any number of rifles, neither does it necessarily mean that they can use the rifle on their desired area of land, or indeed for their desired quarry, the individual can only do so provided the certificate specifically entitles them to do so under the ‘conditions’ of use.

The ‘Conditions’ section of a Firearm Certificate specifies exactly what the holder of the certificate can and cannot do. The certificate also specify’s clearly what calibre of weapon the holder of the certificate can purchase. It is important therefore to get it right from the start, so that your FAC is fit for the purpose you require it for. More on that in a bit.

An FAC costs £88-00 and once granted by an issuing Police Force lasts for five years after which an application may be made for a renewal. During the duration of the certificate you may seek variations to the conditions and/or to purchase further weapons, none the less it is best to get it right from the outset.

The following is designed as a guide to obtaining a Firearm Certificate in the UK for the purpose of hunting and stalking deer.

1. Ensure that you can convince the police and your local Firearms Enquiries Officer (FEO) that you know what you are doing and are taking the matter seriously. The best way of doing this is to take a course. There are a number of providers however, at County Deer Stalking we offer the LANTRA & UK Rural Skills Approved 'Proficient Deer Stalker level 1' training course (PDS1), which offers a unique level of practical training for those who wish to develop their skills and become proficient deer stalkers. The PDS1 course is designed to enable candidates to progress in becoming accomplished, trained hunters, whilst also being a crucial first step in obtaining a Firearm Certificate. For more information on the PDS1 Deer Stalking Certificate follow this link: proficient-stalker or contact the office on: 0203 981 0159 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to make a reservation. 
2. Next, get some experience, go out with an experienced professional stalker and get a few deer under your belt, there is no substitute for time spent in the field, what’s more you can ask your guide for a reference, which is another crucial piece of information to provide to your local constabulary to show them that you know what you are doing. At County Deer Stalking we are also able to assist with deer stalking outings over thousands of acres of land in the south east of England. All outings are carried out by highly professional experienced guides who are able to get you in to good habits.  
3. The Police in the UK are issued by the Home Office with guidelines for the issuing of Firearm Certificates, one of the fundamental requirements of the guidelines are that the Police must be assured that you need the weapon and have somewhere to use it. This is often referred to as having ‘Land Approval’. For this you will need a nominated area of land on which you have written permission to shoot, the land must also be frequented by deer and be suitable for your chosen calibre. For many, this is somewhat of a ‘Catch 22’. You are unlikely to get permission from a farmer or land-owner to shoot deer unless you have a rifle to do it with, and you cant get the rifle until you have the permission! A good means of solving this is to join a deer stalking syndicate or deer stalking club. Club’s like the ‘Capreolus Club’ are perfect at solving this obstacle and also provide a safe, suitable and fun environment in which you can progress in the exciting world of deer stalking. For information about the Capreolus Club please follow this link: capreolusclub
   
4. Once you have done your course, got some experience and joined a club/or obtained land permission, it’s time to put in your application and get an approved Gun Cabinet. Cabinets should be fitted securely at your home address to a load bearing wall and be out of sight. Unlike shotguns, rifles and ammunition must be stored separately in different lockable compartments or in a separate approved cabinet. 
5. Depending on where you live and your issuing Police Force, Firearm Applications can take either a few weeks or a few months. Either way, when you put in your application, make sure that you have dotted the ‘i’s’ and crossed the ‘t’s’. Nothing slows up the issuing of an FAC more than a poor, incorrect or incomplete application. 
6. You will need four passport size photos’ of yourself, provide the details of two people who have known you for at least 2 years and are prepared to act for you as a referee, and will also need to give the police permission to approach your GP. 
7. Finally, you will need to specify what calibre you require. For more information on calibres for deer stalking, heaps of information may be found here on our Rifle Calibres page, which is devoted to choosing the right calibre: rifle-calibres

 At ‘County Deer Stalking’ and the ‘Capreolus Club’ we pride ourselves on assisting people with their firearm applications. Our club chairman Peter Jones is himself a former police officer with 10 year’s experience in the Metropolitan Police, he is also an ‘Approved Witness’ for deer management qualifications and experienced firearms instructor. If you would like assistance, then why not contact the office to find out more on: 0203 981 0159 / 0208 239 7311 or email Peter direct: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.