What our students say

I’ve been loading for a number of seasons and still think this was time well spent. Some of it was familiar, as you would expect, but revisiting the basics makes you think about habits you might otherwise take for granted. in my view, everyone loading should cover this as a minimum.

New to loading and found this really useful. Straightforward, easy to follow and short enough to fit around work. A sensible starting point before going out with someone experienced.

Passed PDS1 and LGMH. Both courses were excellent in bredth and depth of knowledge and with much useful advice. I would recommend both courses the majority of which can be completed online, so at your own pace. The modules are also short enough to be able to fit them in and or course revisit to ensure it goes in. Great courses.

I attended the Airgun Proficiency Course (APC) Practical with Terry Cooper AV560. On completion of the online theory exam, I was very pleased to have found Terry in the list of AV's for the practical as he lived just a few miles away. I made contact with Terry and arranged a date and time that was suitable. On that particular day, the weather was very wet and windy, although it improved after we finished! On arrival I was immediately impressed with his friendly, but very knowledgeable persona. Terry talked me through exactly what we would be doing on the target range at his premises. Once we arrived at the range, I was able to set up my rifle on the first of the positions required. Due to the high wind, I was allowed to fire at a test target to find my point of impact. Once satisfied Terry changed the target ready for the first shots. His calm demeanor meant I was relaxed and able to complete the required shots on the first and subsequent shooting positions successfully.

The online theory component of the Airgun Proficiency Course (APC) was very well structured and contained everything an air gunner should know to show knowledge and safety. The presenter's were very clear and concise in their delivery of each subject of the course. Personally I found the first presenter to be more to my liking. The way there was an exam after each component kept me on my toes, and it was a huge boost to my confidence after passing each section. In summary, this was an excellent, informative course packed with detail and things learnt on this course will stay with me for hopefully, a very long time.

coming back to loading after a few seasons away, I wanted to refresh the basics before getting started again. This was a convenient way to do that. It’s a short course, so you need to have realistic expectations, but as a foundation alongside practical experience I thought it was very worthwhile. Something I’d happily recommend to other loaders

Harry was an amazing AV, he was great at calming the nerves and keeping the atmosphere chilled and relaxed,. I cannot reccomend this AV enough to others

I thought the course was great, very informative and easy to follow. Learned a lot and feel much more confident!

I completed the PDS1 course (Theory) moments ago with the Shooting and Hunting Academy. The course learning content was thorough, detailed and very well presented. In a methodical and organised fashion, with high quality video and audio content. I have supplemented my learning by using the County Deer Stalking YouTube videos as well as the website content. And I feel confident and competent in this initial foundation of knowledge. Thank you S&H academy and Peter Jones. Next step, large game meat hygeine and then a practical assessment.

We wanted both our regular loaders and the newer members of the team to work through the same course. It prompted some useful conversations and gave the less experienced lads a better starting point for their practical instruction. For the time involved, I consider it a worthwhile minimum requirement for our team.

I only load occasionally, so this suited me well. When you aren’t doing something every week, it’s useful to refresh your understanding rather than assume you remember everything. The course was easy to follow and left me with a clearer idea of what I need to keep in mind on the day

The course was very good, I had a bit of trouble navigating the course online with knowing what I needed to do, but that’s down to my lack of computer skills, the two assessors mark and Julian where extremely helpful and their knowledge and guidance with the course was second to none.

PDS1 course simple and clear format entertaining videos enjoyable to learn of an evening

Excellent and informative assessment. A pleasure.

My PDS1 in-field assessment with Stuart Shaw in Cambridge was excellent. He and his wife were very good hosts, personable and thoroughly professional, and I felt at ease the whole time. Stuart is very experienced and knowledgeable, generous with his time and ammunition, and the gear was great. Everything was done safely and responsibly. I got the group I needed, the inspection went well, and every question was answered. The day was not finished. On the way back a roe buck stepped out, and Stuart turned to me and asked if I wanted to take it. Of course I did. We eased out of the truck, slow and quiet, and I went prone in front of it. The shot was there. A beautiful 5-point roebuck. Stuart then talked me through the gralloch. From assessment to a buck on the ground in one day. Brilliant.

I really enjoyed the PDS1. The online format was easy to follow and fitted around work without feeling watered down, and the modules kept me engaged rather than just clicking through. The content was clear and practical, and Peter explained things in a way that stuck. I finished feeling properly prepared, not just certified. I would recommend it.

The course was comprehensive, easy to understand and use. Providing a strong theoretical basis from which to get into deer stalking.

We put our loading team through the course, including a couple of very experienced men. It gave us a useful foundation to discuss together before the season and helped make our expectations clear. We still assess people practically, but having everyone complete the same training is a sensible first step. The short format made it manageable for the whole team.

A good refresher. You can have plenty of experience and still benefit from going back over the essentials. Given how short the course is, I’d recommend making the time for it.

The Av who took me for my pratical PDS1 was very good and all the instuction where given clearly and you could tell he had vast ammount of expearance

PDS1 course well presented and easy to follow would recomened this course to everyone whos just starting out on deer starking.

Advanced deer management course. I found this interesting and informative. It has expanded my knowledge of deer management and I'm hoping it will come in handy as an addition for my pest control business to be able to offer deer management to farmers and landowners when deer numbers impact their businesses, or before that.

I thought the course and especially the delivery was excellent. Two comments: Many of us who have been shooting for over 50 years have terrible hearing. Subtitles would have been great. I think candidates should be warned that the species identification videos are immeasurably more difficult on a mobile phone, the pause and play symbols obscure the footage and it's too small.

I was a bit nervous at first but the approved verified made me feel at ease and talked me through everything I needed to do

I found the pds1 course very useful as I could learn at my own pace very well done and layed out highly recommended to any one wanting to get into deer stalking

Been loading for years. Found it clear, relevant and worth doing. No harm in checking your own knowledge, however long you’ve been at it.

Clear explanations without making things unnecessarily complicated. Helped me understand the responsibility involved in loading. Glad I did it

My assessor was great. He gave great instruction and feedback for me as well as discussing my stalking abilities and conducted a great practical test.

Very good and concise training .the Scottish part of the course a bit destacting.but over all a pleasant learning process.thanks MR GM JORDAN

I completed the night shooting course, the course was very detailed and informative and covered all aspects of night shooting. The course detailed different methods and equipment used with pros and cons for each method used. Would recommend this course to everyone involved in night shooting irrelevant of their knowledge and experience.

9th course with shooting and hunting academy, a lot easier to try and do it when I have time rather than struggle to be in the classroom around work commitments. Excellent information giving. Everyone always happy to help, PDS1 nested

For my Approved Verifier for my PDS1 Practical I had a very knowledgeable gentleman by the name of Joseph Pettigrew. It was obvious Joe had many, many years of experience in Deer Management in the way he conducted himself in the shooting assessment, and the many questions about deer I had for him afterwards. A total professional in every way, his teaching format was concise and easily understood, with a very heavy emphasis on weapons safety, as you would expect. He assisted me in every possible way that he could, for which I am very grateful. After speaking with him at length about my future with deer management, I will most definitely be doing my PDS2 assessment with him, and any other issues that I may come across in the future. I highly recommend him as a Verifier, and also as a source of knowledge regarding Deer Management. Thanks Joseph!

To anyone who is seriously committed to a career in Deer Management, I strongly recommend this course as an absolute necessity. The course content was extremely thorough and professional, not to mention the wealth of knowledge and experience displayed by the presenter and other Subject Matter Experts involved with the course. Everything was broken down into manageable sections you could refer back to, and I thought it was all extremely interesting and topic-relevant. I can't speak highly enough of the knowledge base shown by Mike, who has over 40 years experience with deer. This is a seriously good course; one you will not regret doing, and which will certainly set you in the right direction! Well done Shooting & Hunting Academy! :)

An excellent verifier with lots of practical knowledge and a relaxed manner. As an airline training captain, I am fully aware of the need to relax a candidate in a test situation. Scott was very good at this

My in-field assessment was carried out by an incredibly knowledgeable and helpful AV, Kevin Murphy. From start to finish Kevin provided advice, information and guidance. Highly recommended.

An excellent course with each element being clearly presented and delivered.

Doing my assessment with John Robson was fantastic, he understood my requirements and worked to get the best out of me and the stalk. His knowledge is second to none and his down to earth personality put me at ease throughout. I recommend he gets some sort of pat on the back because anytime someone mentions they are doing a deer course. I’ll be recommending this and John!

Night time shooting course

This course provides a fantastic step by step guide to understanding woodland impacts from mammals and undertaking the necessary assessments for the relevant grant schemes. The video footage and images presented to the candidates in this course is simple to understand, clear and is presented at a pace that's easy to follow. The way that the material surrounding quantitative and qualitative assessments is presented could easily be understood by a broad non-specialist or a more specialist background.

The was very well structured at a good pace which didn’t insult the participants intelligence and was therefore pitched at the appropriate level for the course. The Instructor in the video spoke very well clearly and hit the exact points mentioned in the later exams.

Found the Loaders course easy to follow due to the instructor putting over the modules in a well presented way along with the valuable video clips, the module assessments helped with the final exam.

Excellent course. The instructor was clearly very knowledgeable and being ex forces myself I found his delivery extremely easy to follow and understand

I have just completed my PDS1, and what a fantastic course to introduce you to a career in Deer Management! I have just moved to Scotland from Australia where I was heavily involved in hunting and wanted to continue my passion here in the UK. Once I saw the Academy, I knew this was for me and the correct path for me to take. I have several of the courses listed for completion, and based on the PDS1, they will be something to look forward to. Congratulations to the Academy, it's a great concept and fantastic idea to incorporate hunting and conservation together. Well done!

I had a great experience with my AV and felt comfortable and in safe hands from the moment I first contacted him to book the time in that worked for both our schedules right through to passing my practical assessments. He was extremely knowledgeable, professional and approachable, answering all my questions throughout the days I spent with him. I am really pleased that I chose to complete both the PDS1 and PDS2, as the training has made me a more knowledgeable, confident and all round better deer stalker. I would highly recommend this training to anyone who is serious about developing their skills and reaching a high standard within the deer stalking world.

Extremely informative, the information is presented in an educational (no fluff) manner that is both easy to understand but also provides sufficient detail to pro ide a full understanding of the information needed. It was both engaging and entertaining.

I was a bit worried about doing an online course as I’m not very good with computers. Honestly though, I found the platform really easy to use and everything was clearly laid out. I could work through it at my own pace and had no problems getting around the course. Much easier than I expected and a really good experience overall.

My boyfriend first took me out deer stalking just to see what it was all about, and I was completely hooked after that first outing! I knew I wanted to do it properly, so I enrolled on PDS1. I absolutely loved the course. As someone completely new to deer stalking, there was a huge amount to learn, but everything was explained really well. I especially liked that I could go back and watch the lessons as many times as I needed because some topics definitely took me a couple of goes to fully understand. I also had a few questions along the way, and the team at S&HAcademy were brilliant. They always came back to me quickly and were really friendly and helpful. I've learned so much already and can't wait to complete my practical assessment and get back out stalking again!

I was delighted with my practical assessment which was conducted by Gethin. He was highly professional and detail oriented throughout the whole process. I’ve also decided to take up his offer for further coaching ahead of taking my PDS2 which I plan to try and complete later this year.

Worth while doing this course especially if your are a beginner! I like how the training videos reinforce information given earlier on module 7 then again later on prior to sitting the exam. Highly recommend 👌 I have shared information on my instagram also

With work and family life, finding time to do a qualification wasn't going to be easy, so the online learning was perfect for me. I could log on whenever I had an hour free, whether that was in the evenings or at the weekend, and work through the course at my own pace. I was also surprised at how easy it was to arrange the practical assessment. I found an Approved Verifier only about 15 minutes from where I live, got in touch, and had my PDS1 practical booked in within a few days. The whole process has been much more convenient than I expected. Highly recommended.

Night shooting course . Having attended one or two courses over the years , all on a face to face basis, I was a bit sceptical initially as to how it would work and if it would in any way resemble a classroom situation . I have been pleasantly surprised by the course and how it was presented in smaller bite size portions with testing at the end of each section , I liked this way of doing it as the content is fresh and in your mind , I was not expecting the larger exam at the end , that took me by surprise initially but think overall it was very good . As someone that does not do too well in an exam situation in classrooms I found it more relaxing to do , and find that it did not in any way dilute the learning experience . I would definitely recommend this course and indeed this structure of gaining qualifications , it is a lot less stressful and the bonus if not having to wait till the next course becomes available , and not to mention the extra cost ! ,very professional and precisely delivered . Having done all my qualifications previously the old school way , I do not feel that it takes anything away for the learning experience. Very happy with the results . Thank you Robert Wilson

Really enjoyed working through the PDS1 course. I learned far more than I expected and found the online content clear, interesting, and easy to follow. Arranging the practical assessment was also really straightforward. I got in touch with an Approved Verifier and had everything booked in no time. Looking forward to getting the practical completed now!

I completed my PDS1 pratical with stewart sloan and i cannot recommend stewart enough the knowledge and explanations that he gives is amazing absolute brilliant experience, the slow walk through of what needs to happen and how to position yourself when taking the shots 10/10

I ve been stalking in Scotland all my life and never really saw the need for a qualification. But with more estates and contracts now asking for recognised certificates, I thought it was time to get one under my belt.20% discount for those of us living in Scotland actually made PDS1 cheaper than doing DSC1, so it was an easy decision. I'm glad I did it. The course was enjoyable, well put together, and I picked up a few things along the way as well.Definitely worth doing,

Great experience from start to finish. The online classes were easy to follow, packed with really useful information, and I learned far more than I expected. Would definitely recommend PDS1 to anyone looking to get into deer stalking.

I passed my DSC1 about five years ago but, due to work and family commitments, I never really had the chance to get out stalking as much as I'd hoped. Now that I've got more time, I wanted to get back into it, but I felt the responsible thing to do was to refresh my knowledge rather than just pick up the rifle where I left off. I initially contacted BASC about doing DSC1 again, but the nearest assessment date I was offered was over three months away. I then came across PDS1 and decided to give it a go instead. I'm really pleased I did. The online course was much more detailed and interactive than I expected, and being able to go back and rewatch sections made a big difference. It refreshed everything I'd forgotten and gave me plenty of new knowledge as well. Looking back, I think I made the right decision. I now feel much more confident getting back into deer stalking and would happily recommend PDS1 to anyone returning to the sport after a break.

Before enrolling, I must have asked the team dozens of questions because I wanted to make sure PDS1 was the right course for me. Every single email was answered quickly, and nothing ever seemed too much trouble. Their support and patience gave me the confidence to finally enrol, and I'm so glad I did. Fantastic customer service and a great course!

I recently completed the PDS2 Theory course and found it to be an excellent learning experience. The course content was well structured, informative and easy to follow, providing a thorough understanding without being overwhelming. One of the biggest advantages was being able to study at my own pace. This made it easy to fit around my work commitments and meant I could revisit sections whenever I wanted to reinforce my understanding before moving on. The information was presented clearly, with practical explanations that made it straightforward to understand. Overall, I would highly recommend the PDS2 Theory course to anyone looking to develop their knowledge in a flexible and professional way. It offers an excellent balance of high-quality learning and convenience, making it ideal for those juggling work and other commitments.

What a journey it's been! I first went out deer stalking with my brother in law about three years ago and was instantly hooked. At the time I knew absolutely nothing, so I signed up for PDS1 to learn the basics properly.Looking back now, it was definitely the right decision. The course gave me loads of confidence and a really solid understanding before heading out on my own. Since then I've shot over 30 deer, some on my brother-in-law's ground and plenty with my local Approved Verifier, who has become more of a mentor than just an assessor. He's always happy to answer questions and has helped me massively over the last few years. I've now moved on to PDS2, completed the theory and already done my first cull, which feels like a big milestone. I never imagined when I started that I'd end up where I am today. I've met some brilliant people along the way and learned so much. Massive thanks to everyone at S&H Academy for helping me get started and giving me the confidence to keep progressing!

Both Chris Dalton & Rab Millar are top class instructors and verifiers. Friendly, Approachable, enthusiastic in supporting me on my new journey and experiences into deer stalking and more ! There is a quote "if you want to be one of the best, you have to train wirh the best". PDS2

I have now completed 6 courses and starting course number 7 soon. This says it all. Im clearly enjoying the online learning course work and the staff support is excellent Highly recommend

I’ve been stalking for donkeys’ years and did my DSC1 about 20 years ago, but thought it was about time I added another ticket to the CV. I enrolled on the monday, was out on the Thursday and managed to shoot two bucks for the assessment. Nice and straightforward, no drama, and very efficient if you already have the experience and just want to get the qualification done properly. Good Job Peter Jones!

I completed my PDS2 in Surrey and had a really positive experience. My Approved Verifier was excellent throughout — professional, patient and very knowledgeable. Before going ahead with the PDS2 assessment, I also booked an introductory stalk with him, which gave me a lot more confidence and helped me understand what to expect. Overall, a very good experience and I would highly recommend it.5 stars.

I thought the Night Shooting course was well put together and provided a very clear and concise series of lessons to understand the subject. Once again this was excellent.

I wasn’t sure whether to go down the DSC2 or PDS2 route, so I enquired about both. I never heard back from Basc, whereas the Academy got back to me almost instantly. I spoke to a few different people and heard different opinions, but because the Academy responded so quickly and because PDS2 also included additional online learning modules, I decided to go ahead with it. i have absolutely no regrets. I really enjoyed both of my outings with my av, Tom. He put a lot of time and effort into making sure I was relaxed, prepared and had no questions before we started the assessment. He was a really nice guy and very professional throughout. I’ll definitely be going back to see him again,

Course really detailed, learning online makes it really easy to do alongside other commitments such as work and family. Also because of the way it is split into sections, really easy to look back for reminders even post completing the qualification

Online learning was easy to follow, the practical assessment was excellent, and I received my certificates within a week of completing the course. Communication throughout was brilliant and any questions I had were answered quickly. Overall, a very well-run operation. Will be back for more course soon.

Equipment and mentor made the experience enjoyable, even if we were not lucky enough to take down a beast.

The PDS1 course was informative and set up great to support progress where you cannot commit to a large block of time.

Great course and very professionally delivered. I've also completed the UKDTR, Gralloching, Butchery courses with academy and every one of them has been high quality. Looking forward to doing more courses in the future. keep up the good work!

I moved over to the UK from the States and have hunted for most of my life back home, so I wasn’t sure how much I would actually get out of PDS1. I was wrong to be fair. The hunting experience helps, of course, but stalking in the UK is very different. The course was really useful for understanding the laws, deer seasons, meat hygiene, and just how things are done properly over here. It was easy to follow and gave me a lot more confidence to start hunting in the UK without feeling like I was guessing my way through it. If you’re coming from another country with hunting experience, I’d still say do it. It’s well worth it.

Having completed PDS1 previously, PDS2 felt like the natural next step. I found the course detailed without being over complicated and the practical assessment was conducted to a high standard. My assessor questioned me throughout the outing and it really made me think about why I was doing certain things. That was probably the most valuable part for me.

PDS2. As a recreational stalker, I wanted to do PDS2 to prove to myself that I was doing things properly and safely. I found the online part very useful because I could fit it around work and family life without needing to take time off for classroom days. The practical assessment was fair but thorough. My verifier was very knowledgeable and calm, which helped a lot. He picked up on small things and explained why they mattered, rather than just saying right or wrong. I finished the process feeling far more confident in my own ability and decision making. I would definitely recommend S&H Academy.

As someone completely new to deer stalking, I honestly had no idea where to start. I contacted S&H Academy with what must have felt like a million questions, and I genuinely couldn't have asked for better help and support. I probably drove them mad at times, but not once was I made to feel like any question was silly or a waste of time. Paula was absolutely fantastic throughout, always quick to reply and incredibly helpful. I also received a phone call from another lady from the Academy (I'm terribly sorry, I can't remember her name) who spent a good amount of time talking everything through with me. She patiently explained every step involved in getting into deer stalking, what qualifications I would need, what equipment was worth investing in, and what was realistic for someone starting from scratch. At the same time, I had also contacted BASC about doing DSC1. After the initial conversation I never heard back from them, despite chasing them a couple of times. The difference in communication and support was night and day. I've now completed both my theory and practical assessment and couldn't be happier. My Approved Verifier, Jonathan, was brilliant. Not only did he help me through the practical assessment, but he has since become a mentor and a great source of advice. I've already booked three stalking outings with him over the next couple of months. The highlight for me was successfully harvesting my first deer. It was something I never thought I would achieve when I first sent that nervous email asking where to begin. The venison is now in the freezer for me and my son, which makes the whole experience even more rewarding. For any woman thinking about getting into deer stalking but feeling unsure where to start, my advice would be simple: pick up the phone and speak to S&H Academy. They made what seemed like a very intimidating world feel welcoming and achievable.

I found the course very intuitive and really well put together.Mike was an excellent PDF-1 assessor. Really thorough, professional, and made the whole process smooth and stress-free. He knew his stuff inside out, gave clear feedback, and was fair but encouraging throughout. Passed my assessment with confidence thanks to his guidance.He also took me on a very informative guided stalk ,Top bloke, would recommend him without hesitation.”

Well presented easy to follow course.

Fantastic support throughout the whole process. Easy-to-use platform, quick responses from Paula in the office. Can wait for my assessment this weekend!

Having completed both the online theory and practical assessment, I can honestly say the PDS1 exceeded my expectations. The online learning platform was straightforward to use, and the content was presented in a professional and engaging way. I particularly liked being able to revisit sections that I found more challenging and test my understanding through the quizzes. The practical assessment was equally impressive and focused on real-world competence. The entire qualification felt modern, relevant, and professionally managed.

It took me three outings to complete my PDS2, as unfortunately the second outing was unsuccessful. However, on my third outing I managed to get two deer, which was an exceptional experience and made the whole process even more rewarding. My Approved Verifier, Paul, was incredibly helpful throughout. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a more professional, patient and knowledgeable person to guide me through the assessment. Overall, it was a very good experience and I’m really excited to continue building on what I’ve learned. I’m going to the Highlands with my family next year, so I’m really looking forward to putting everything into practice there. 5 stars.

Great

I completed both the Night Shooting theory and practical assessment with S&H Academy and found the whole process extremely professional from start to finish. The online course was clear, well structured and covered all the key points around safety, legal responsibilities, equipment, shot placement and decision-making at night. The practical assessment was especially valuable because it put the theory into context. It made me think carefully about safe shot selection in a realistic way. The assessor was calm, knowledgeable and fair, and I came away feeling far more confident. A very worthwhile course for anyone carrying out deer management or pest control in low-light conditions.

Recently completed the Grey Squirrel Management Course - the material was well written, well-presented and understandable!

Ive been stalking deer for over 20 years and, if I'm honest, kept putting off doing a qualification because I didn't think I'd get much out of it Im glad I finally did. The course was useful, professional, and there were a few things in there that made me think. It's also good to have a recognised qualification behind me now Well worth doing.

I’ll be honest, I was quite sceptical about doing PDS1. I’ve been stalking for years and only really signed up because I think the way things are going in the UK, we’ll all need some sort of certification sooner or later, no matter how long we’ve been doing it. To my surprise, and I’m not embarrassed to admit it, I actually learnt quite a lot. There were a few bits I thought I already knew, but clearly didn’t know as well as I should of. It was a good reminder that you never really stop learning in this game. The course was easy enough to get through and the practical side was well run and professional. For anyone who thinks there’s nothing in it for them because they’ve been stalking for years, I’d say stop being too proud, get on with it and get your ticket. You might be surprised.

I recently completed the PDS1 course. I found the course content to be of a very high standard and presented in a manner which was easy to follow and suited my lifestyle and learniing style. The benefit of this online course is the abilty to go over and review subject matter that was more of a challenge for myself to understand, on a number of occassions . Overall a well constructed course designed for types and abilty of learning styles

My assesser for my PDS1 was John Robson. From the first inital contact it was apparent that he was a highly experienced stalker and assesser. John was very flexible with his time and ensured that we had a dste and time that was suitable to both for of us he was very resuring and encourgeing thoughout the actual assessment . Overall a very postive experience.

PDS1 practical assessment. Recently completed my pds1 practical assessment. My AV was Dale Simmonite. The way Dale puts you at ease and shares his knowledge is just right for an enjoyable few hours. I would highly recommend giving Dale a call if you need to get the practical assessment done.

Simon Dack....PDS1 Not wanting to sit in a classroom for 3 days, i decided to enroll on the online PDS1 course. Even i (not at all computer savvy) got on with it straight from the off. Doing a module at a time, as and when it suits, is brilliant. I would recommend to anyone interested in getting in to stalking or furthering their knowledge, to go for it. Thoroughly enjoyed it 👌

I was genuinely impressed with the quality of the online learning. The course was very well structured, easy to follow, and allowed me to study around work and family commitments. The videos, quizzes, and supporting materials kept everything engaging without feeling overwhelming. I had looked at several options before enrolling, and I'm very glad I chose PDS1 through S&H Academy. The flexibility and professionalism of the course made the whole experience enjoyable from start to finish.

Excellent course from start to finish. The online learning was clear and informative, and the practical assessment was professional and enjoyable. Highly recommended.

Night shooting course is another great course by S&H Academy. Informative and well presented! As always the communication from the S&H team is impeccable. Done a few courses now and honestly I think they are way ahead of the game with the course quality and customer service,

We were welcomed by Mark and Dave, who took us through the outline of how the assessment session would be run, in a very friendly professional manner, relaxed with a mixture of fun, but with safety as the very top priority, every area was covered well, and even though as anyone would be nervous as its still a pass or fail situation, our nerve's were calmed by the good manner of the assessors, who couldn't do enough for us, we were given good help and advice, information to help us was put across in a manner that made you want to learn and listen, overall an excellent experience, thank you gents.

The course is well constructed, covering all the areas needed, in an easy well paced series videos, followed by the question and answer sections at the end of each section, once the whole on line course is complete its good that for revision you can go through each section again, not always possible, but the course is good value for money ,and very well done to learn from,

Excellente formation, je la recommande à tous les chasseurs qui souhaitent pratiquer au Royaume-Uni! I live in France and usually come over to the UK once or twice a year for deer stalking. I've been hunting for many years, so I wasn't expecting to learn a huge amount, but I decided to do PDS1 because I wanted a better understanding of how deer management and stalking works in the UK. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. There was a lot of useful information about UK legislation, deer species, meat hygiene and best practice that I simply wasn't familiar with. The online learning was easy to follow and I could complete it around my work commitments. The practical assessment was also very professional and gave me confidence that I was doing things the right way when stalking in the UK. For anyone coming from Europe to stalk in Britain, I would definitely recommend it. Even with plenty of hunting experience, there is always something new to learn.

Very informative and put together in a very excellent way.

I found the course content to be very informative, and the online learning format made it highly accessible for me due to my limited free time. Being able to complete the learning in manageable sections allowed me to fit the course around my other commitments. Another major benefit was the ability to revisit weaker areas of learning whenever needed. In a classroom environment, topics often move on quickly due to the amount of content learners are expected to absorb in a short period of time. The online format allowed me to review and reinforce areas where I needed additional understanding, which greatly improved the overall learning experience.

I have a face for radio, however the course was perfectly aimed and challenging enough that I couldn’t pass from memory alone and had to study to get it right , totally not a tick box exercise at all. Reassuring that it’s not a dawdle to pass ,good to see crusty and stuffy DMQ being challenged by a better qualifying system!

PDS1,PDS2 and LGHC all courses were perfect for me with the convenience of being able to stop and start.

APC completed Well presented and easy to follow course I decided to complete in the one sitting.

Paul was very good as a Coach and assessor and Easy to get on with, had everyone very relaxed enabling them to perform as required

Clear informative and easy to follow, very happy with the content for the course

PDS1 Was a great day, the instructor made it enjoyable and kept us all engaged. Working in a group helped keep nerves down and so did the instructors way of accessing.

Very informative and easy to navigate. Really useful with busy lifestyle to be able to do a section and then go back to it another day to start the next.

PDS 2 Excellent on line lessons and exams allowing you to learn at your pace.

PDS2 I’m a recreational stalker who wanted to increase my knowledge and skill base. The online theory lessons and exams, followed by practical assessments in my ‘own’ time allowed this to happen. Royce was an excellent verifier with a ‘Firm, Fair & Friendly’ manner. He clearly has a deep skill base and enjoys passing on his experience and knowledge.

I completed PDS2 as I wanted to progress further in deer management and build on my PDS1. The course content was well structured and the online format worked perfectly for me. The practical side was challenging but fair. It is not something you can just turn up to and expect to pass without being competent, which I think is a good thing. The assessor was professional and very knowledgeable.

Phil House is a really good teacher. I’d highly recommend him. Not only is he a pool of knowledge and a good teacher; he’s very passionate and enthusiastic about deer and hunting, which is contagious!

Just had my PDS1 practical assessment with Mark. Mark is very knowledgeable and familiar with the area my land is in, Sutherland. I had never used sticks before as my typical stalking distance is about 50m and no chance of ever setting them up unobserved, so we did a bit of practice with his before I used them for the assessment shots (it is not explicitly mentioned anywhere that you must use them, but good luck trying a 5" group standing unsupported!). All was smooth and Mark is pretty clear on the requirements, letting me know at every step whether he was happy with what I was doing. We had a real misfire during the assessment shots (my first ever misfire in over 20y of shooting centrefires). I recocked and still no bang (my rifle can safely recock on a closed bolt), then I followed the drill which we both knew well, with Mark going over it while I was waiting for my 30 seconds. I wasn't thinking of taking it, but Mark actually convinced me to go for the PDS2 course. Even with over 20y of stalking and probably over 100 beasts taken, I think I will learn a fair bit during the assessment outings with Mark. We've covered misfires!

The practical assessment was excellent from start to finish. Mark immediately put me at ease and took plenty of time to explain everything properly. He wasn't just there to assess me, he shared lots of useful tips and advice from his own experience which I found incredibly valuable. The whole assessmentt felt relaxed, professional and enjoyable and I came away feeling much more confident. I ve actually booked a deer stalking day with Mark next week as well, which I'm really looking forward to

The practical assessment was conducted to an extremely high standard. Every part of the process was explained clearly by Mark, and the feedback provided was constructive and helpful. I particularly appreciated how the assessment focused on safety, marksmanship, and practical field application. The verifier created a relaxed atmosphere while maintaining professional standards throughout... I am not a beginner at the sport but I really learned lots of good tips.

It was a pleasure to undergo assessment with Mr Clive ! A knowledgeable and thorough professional he has been really great to work with. A true workman with well cared for tools and a no nonsense work ethic. The real human touch was a great cup of Joe by the lovely lady of the house which reinforced the personal connect that is becoming so uncommon these days.

From enrolment through to certification, the entire process was outstanding. The online training was informative and easy to navigate, the practical assessment was professionally delivered, and every interaction with the S&H Academy team was prompt and helpful. Whenever I had a question, someone came back to me quickly with clear advice. It is obvious that a lot of thought has gone into creating a smooth learner experience.

I have been in the pest control industry for over 30 years, so I will be honest — I was slightly sceptical about how much I would actually gain from the Night Shooting Course. However, I was pleasantly surprised!, Overall, I found it far more valuable than eexpected and would recommend it to both experienced professionals and those newer to night shooting.

Night Shooting Course

I absolutely loved the online course. The content was incredibly thorough and covered so much more than I expected What I found particularly useful was being able to go back and rewatch sections as many times as I needed. Some topics took a little longer to sink in than others, and having unlimited access to the lessons meant I could revisit them until I was completely comfortable with the material. The whole course was professionally put together, easy to navigate, and genuinely enjoyable to complete. The final exam was timed but I believe 50 min fo r 55 questions is enough

The in-field assessment was a really positive experience. Peter is a great guy with a lot of experience and, importantly, knows how to communicate it clearly. He was professional, approachable, and put me at ease from the start. Everything was clearly explained, and I felt supported throughout while still being properly assessed.