Successful candidates Karl Reynolds, Matthew Wilson, Michael Browne, Christopher Culleton, John Hennessy, Luke Byrne and Michael Mac Giolla Coda

Johanna Tracey

the first (and so far, the only!) lady candidate to achieve Advanced Marksmanship status

The first Deer Alliance Advanced Marksmanship Course (AMC) took place on Saturday 28th May 2016 at the Midlands National Shooting Grounds, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. The AMC was run on a pilot basis with a view to developing the one-day course, which leads to a Certificate in Advanced Marksmanship awarded by the Deer Alliance as an add-on qualification to the hugely successful Hunter Competence Assessment Programme (HCAP) now in its eleventh year of operation and with close on 2700 individual candidates having participated in HCAP over that time.

The Course of Fire, designed to test the accuracy of candidates on the Deer Alliance deer target with fifteen rounds of deer-legal ammunition in three positions over 100 metres, was preceded by a presentation by Liam Nolan of Deer Alliance HCAP on topics ranging from gun safety and risk assessment, ballistics and choice of firearm, zeroing the rifle and taking the shot. Participation is limited to HCAP-Certified Candidates.

The Course of Fire proved challenging for many candidates and in the final analysis only ten candidates were successful in meeting the requirements of accuracy on the Range, thus establishing the AMC qualification as a true mark of achievement and testimony to the marksmanship of successful candidates.

The Deer Alliance intends to build on this pilot exercise to develop and enhance the Course and to present it for participation by HCAP-Certified Candidates on a regular basis over the coming years.

SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES, NOW ALL HOLDERS OF THE DEER ALLIANCE ADVANCED MARKSMANSHIP CERTIFICATE:

Browne, Michael
Byrne, Luke
Culleton, Christopher
Hennessy, John
Keegan, Michael
Mac Giolla Coda, Michael
Morehead, John
Reynolds, Karl
Treacy, Johanna
Wilson, Matthew

Congratulations to all successful candidates and commiserations to others!

The Deer Alliance will also consider what arrangements will be possible for No-Shows, Deferrals and Fail Candidates who may wish to repeat the AMC Course of Fire with a view to achieving the AMC. Further announcements will be made here in due course.

HCAP DEER TARGET

The following is the Course of Fire for the Deer Alliance Advanced Marksmanship Course taking place on Saturday 28th May 2016 (see separate posting for further details of times, venues and eligible Candidates)

• Fifteen Rounds of deer-legal ammunition – five rounds in the prone position, five rounds in the sitting/kneeling position and five rounds in the standing position.
• All shots are taken at 100 metres, in Firing Details of up to 20 candidates.
• All shots may be taken rested, using any conventional stalking aid (e.g. fitted bipod, tripod or stalking stick)
• All shots must be inside the heart/lung target zone on the HCAP Deer Target (as defined by black line on target)
• Candidates dropping one or more shots in the course of fire may withdraw at that point, without finishing the full course of fire. It is not a competition.
• One Repeat Course of Fire only is permitted.
• No zeroing shots permitted.
• Range Officers’ decisions are final.

SIKA HIND – THE HCAP DEER TARGET – AIM POINT, HEART & LUNG AREA
DEFINED BY A THIN BLACK LINE ON THE PAPER TARGET.

The Deer Alliance Advanced Marksmanship Course 2016 will take place at the Midland National Shooting Range, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly on Saturday 28th May 2016. The list of eligible candidates is shown below (applications are now closed).

This event is a new addition to the Deer Alliance annual calendar of events and is primarily a test of accuracy and high achievement in marksmanship over fifteen rounds of deer-legal ammunition on a deer-shaped target at a range of 100 metres in three positions (prone, kneeling/sitting and standing, five rounds in each position). All shots must be contained within the heart & lung killing zone on the HCAP deer target.

All candidates must be HCAP-Certified to participate.

The test of marksmanship is supported by a short series of lectures covering areas including safe handling, storage and carriage of firearms and ammunition, ballistics, choice of telescopic sights, efficient zeroing of the rifle and telescopic sights and safety and risk assessment in the field.

Start time is 11.00 a.m. sharp. All candidates must attend the scheduled lectures. The Marksmanship Test will commence at 2.00 approximately.

All successful candidates achieving 100% success in the Range Test will be awarded the Deer Alliance Certificate in Advanced Marksmanship.

Candidates dropping one round or more during the Course of Fire will be entitled to withdraw without firing further rounds. One Repeat Course of Fire only will be allowed on the day.

ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES

Browne, Michael, 2008/0073
Colfer, Michael, J., 2013/0081
Culleton, Christopher, 2015/0027
Dempsey, Timothy, 2012/0060
Forde, Neil, 2005/02/0015
Hennessy, John, 2005/03/0001
Keegan, Cathal, 2015/0095
Keegan, Michael, 2012/0099
Mac Giolla Coda, Michael, 2005/03/0018
Morehead, John, 2005/01/0013
Nolan, Jack, 2005/03/0003
O’Keeffe, Pat, 2007/0033
O’Reilly, Stephen, 2007/0141
O’Sullivan, Gerard, 2008/0032
Reynolds, Karl, 2014/0021
Roest, Jack, 2007/0116
Stewart, Thomas, 2005/05/0021
Treacy, Johanna, 2014/0104
Wilson, Ian, 2009/0193
Wilson, Matthew, 2006/0035

Wishing all candidates every success on the day.