Apprenticeship training course

Underkeeper (level 2)

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Information about Underkeeper (level 2)

Participate in habitat management, pest and predator control and animal husbandry in support of a shooting enterprise.

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • Legislation and licensing requirements applicable to game shooting in England.
  • The ecological requirements of relevant game species and habitat preferences.
  • The requirements of animal and bird husbandry as dictated by the enterprise. Including the use of medications, feeding wild birds, care of laying birds, hatching eggs and rearing game, releasing game and care of associated animals such as gundogs.
  • How to maximise conservation benefits relevant to the shooting enterprise.
  • Current legislation appropriate to rifle and shotgun use.
  • Rifle and shotgun cleaning and routine maintenance procedures.
  • Storage and transport of shotguns and rifles.
  • Health and safety considerations relating to rifle and shotgun use.
  • Relevant health and safety legislation and industry good practice.
  • The law and Code of Practice covering fox snaring.
  • Snare design and equipment preparation to comply with the code of practice.
  • The social and economic impact of shooting in the UK.
  • How to manage public access, to include an understanding of the requirement to maintain public footpaths and access points such as stiles and gates and the implications of public access to land mapped as 'open country' (mountain, moor, heath and down) or registered common land.
  • Identifying the tools and methods appropriate for relevant land management operation, such as choosing between a nylon strimmer head and a brushcutter blade for a vegetation clearance task.
  • Understand how to identify signs of common game bird diseases, including rotavirus, coccidiosis, gape worms, mycoplasma ('bulgy eye') and spironucleus/trichomonas.
  • Understand how to plan an integrated pest and predator control regime appropriate to the landscape, choosing relevant pest control methods.
  • Understand and identify the appropriate land management practices to enhance habitat.
  • Recognise common countryside flora and fauna.
  • Understand landscape designations such as Site of Special Scientific Interest, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, RAMSAR and the laws surrounding them.
  • Understand the principles of flushing game on a driven shoot day, including a thorough understanding of the drives on a relevant shooting enterprise.
  • Know the five freedoms as set out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. a. its need for a suitable environment b. its need for a suitable diet (and water) c. Its need to exhibit normal behaviour patterns d. any need to be housed with, or apart from, other animals in appropriate social groupings e. its need to be protected from fear, pain, suffering, injury and disease.
  • To have knowledge of and comply with the law relating to current legislation on animal welfare and species protection legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act, Animal Welfare Act, the Conservation Habitats of Species Regulations, UK trapping standards, Wild Mammals Protection Act etc.
  • Identify the six species of deer that live wild in the UK.
  • An understanding of legislation relating to deer, and in particular the Deer Act.

  Skills

  • Maintain good standards of health and safety, keeping self and others safe in the workplace.
  • Administer emergency first aid.
  • Use land management techniques such as burning, pesticide application, coppicing, hedgelaying, pond creation and planting.
  • Recognise and deal with common gamebird diseases through administering medication and seeking veterinary assistance as appropriate, in a speedy and timely manner.
  • Undertake the care of gundogs through identifying and treating minor injuries and ailments.
  • Use a variety of integrated methods to control pests and predators of game, including firearms, traps and poisons.
  • Identify relevant species of game, pests, predators and vegetation.
  • Use digital technology relevant to the workplace effectively, including Global Positioning Systems and the responsible use of social media.
  • Work safely and carry out risk assessments for all practical land management activities undertaken such as tree felling, hedgelaying, burning, pond creation, pesticide application and planting.
  • Select and use the appropriate personal protective equipment.
  • Carry out pre-use safety checks on ATVs, tractors, chainsaws, strimmers and brushcutters.
  • Undertake pre-use maintenance of tractors and ATVs.
  • Operate and ride/ drive tractors, both sit in and sit-astride ATVs, and with a trailer or implement.
  • Hitch a trailer and PTO driven attachments.
  • Carry out maintenance of strimmers, brushcutters and chainsaws.
  • Cross-cut timber using a chainsaw.
  • Fell and process trees up to 380mm.
  • Operate strimmers and brushcutters safely.
  • Set fox snares according to the Code of Best Practice.
  • Demonstrate safe handling and use of a rifle and a shotgun.
  • Manually handle loads safely such as moving coppiced wood, gundogs, equipment or game.
  • Care of working dogs, to include fitness, routine care and handling in the field.
  • Communicate instructions clearly to beaters/pickers and shoot guests.
  • Prepare game at the end of the shoot.
  • Capable of accurate rifle shooting.

  Behaviours

  • Have a strong work ethic, including self-motivation and time management.
  • Have a flexible, positive attitude to work.
  • Ability to work as a lone worker and as a member of a team.
  • A willingness to listen and learn from others.
  • An enthusiasm for the conservation benefits of game shooting.
  • Ability to take personal responsibility.
  • Problem solving and effective decision making.
  • To respect wildlife and all animals in their care.
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Agriculture, environmental and animal care
• Qualification level: 2; Equal to GCSE
• Course duration: 18 months
• Maximum funding: £7,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
• Job titles include:
  • Underkeeper

View more information about Underkeeper (level 2) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.