Monthly Archives: March 2020

MANDATORY CERTIFICATION FOR DEER HUNTERS 2021-2022

National Parks & Wildlife Service have confirmed the introduction of mandatory training, assessment and certification (HCAP) for first-time applicants for a Deer Hunting Licence (DHL) with effect from 2021. This follows a fifteen-year campaign by Deer Alliance HCAP and we welcome this statement from NPWS.

Date Released: Friday, March 13, 2020

Mandatory training and certification for first time applicants for deer hunting licenses is being introduced.

Under the Wildlife Acts, annual licences are required to hunt deer during the Open Season which is the period during which deer can be legally shot. The Open Season for deer operates generally from 1 September to 28 February of the following year, depending on the species and gender of deer. About 5,500 deer hunting licences are issued each year of which in the region of 1,000 are first time applicants. For the 2021/22 deer hunting season which starts on 1 September 2021 it will be a requirement for first time applicants to have the necessary training and certification.

The Department will put in place an appropriate oversight regime to ensure that the training and certification are delivered to an appropriate standard.

See the NPWS statement here.

The syllabus for training, assessment and certification follows the HCAP Model and can be accessed here.

URGENT UPDATE – POSTPONEMENT OF HCAP MCQ

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In light of the escalation of concerns surrounding spread of the Covid 19 virus as at today, 17th March 2020, Deer Alliance HCAP unfortunately feels it is wisest and most prudent to postpone the HCAP MCQ scheduled for Saturday 21st March 2020. All Candidates are hereby advised of this decision. Every effort will be made to communicate with each candidate individually by text or email here available.

This decision is taken with regret for any inconvenience and only after consultation with the public health authorities and State agencies setting the parameters for avoidance of infection across the community generally, as well as with a cross-section of candidates.
An alternative date will be fixed as soon as things settle down and updates will be posted here as soon as possible.

Deer Alliance greatly regrets any inconvenience to candidates who have made arrangements to travel or to take time off work to participate in the Training Workshop and/or MCQ. However, concerns are such as to demand that caution be exercised and that public health interests, and protection against infection for all parties involved, take precedence over anything else.

We trust candidates will bear with us until such time as the situation improves and things get back to normal.

All candidates listed below remain eligible to participate in the next scheduled MCQ,

ACATINCA, Vasilica, 2019/81
BURKE, David, 2020/0011
CREAMER, Ronan, 2019/0081
DEDAJ, Kristian, 2019/0078
DUNPHY, Garreth, 2020/0006
EDGE, Robert, 2018/0104
FINN, Richard, 2019/0082
FLAHERTY, James, 2018/0051
FLYNN, Cathal, 2020/0014
HAMILL, Michael/2020/0021
HARMON, James, 2020/0010
HARVEY, Brendan, 2020/0008
HEAVEY, Lisa, 2019/0080
HENDERSON, Simon, 2020/0020
HUNT, William, 2019/0063
HUTCHINSON, Robert, 2009/0108
KENDELLEN, Barry, 2020/0013
KENNY, Seán, 2020/0002
KIRWAN, Robert, 2020/0019
LARKIN, Andrea, 2020/0016
MacCARTHY, Dylan, 2020/0003
MacCARTHY, Seán, 2020/0004
MANNINGHAM-BULLER, Edward, 2020/0018
MAY, Sean, 2020/0015
O’CALLAGHAN, Michael, 2019/0079
O’CONNELL, Gary, 2020/0022
PASCALE, Florin, 2020/0001
REID, Graeme, 2020/0009
ROONEY, Paul, 2020/0007
TICE, Patrick, 2018/0007
WALSH, Maurice, 2020/0005
WHELAN, Andrew, 2020/0017

HCAP MCQ GOES AHEAD ON 21st MARCH 2020

Amidst growing concern for the spread of the COVID19 virus, Deer Alliance HCAP have carefully considered the advisability of proceeding with the HCAP Training Workshop and MCQ taking place on Saturday 21st March 2020.

Given scheduling difficulties if the MCQ is postponed and a knock-on effect affecting other possible dates, it has ben decided that the Workshop and the MCQ will proceed as scheduled.
However, this decision will be reviewed over the coming seven days and if deemed appropriate, it will be reversed.

Meanwhile, all intending participants will attend at own risk. Any and all candidates experiencing any symptoms however slight, are urged to stay away. Any sign of influenza, a severe cold, coughing, sneezing, respiratory difficulties or muscular discomfort should be regarded very seriously, and self-isolation should be undertaken with immediate effect.

This notification will be updated as necessary and in any event, not later than Thursday 19th March.

ADDENDUM

Since posting the above notification, the Government has imposed a ban on indoor gatherings comprised of more than 100 attendees. On this basis, the MCQ will fit comfortably inside the upper limit and pending any further negative developments over the next few days, the MCQ will go ahead, as set out above.