We are pleased to announce that, with the lifting of Covid 19 restrictions, Deer Alliance HCAP can now re-commence their calendar of HCAP Assessments.

The next HCAP MCQ will take place at 4.00 p.m. on Saturday 11th July 2020 and will be preceded by an optional Training Workshop running from 10.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.

The cost of HCAP remains unchanged at €165.00. Application can be made online, go to Online Applications from the website Home Page and follow the on-screen instructions.

The Deer Alliance Stalker Training Manual, now in its third printing, can be purchased online, cost €35.00 inc. p. & p.

The Training Workshop carries an additional cost of €50.00 payable on the day and candidates wishing to participate should pre-book their place by email to deeralliance@gmail.com or by text to 086 1927 845.

Candidates not participating in the Workshop should present themselves not later than 3.45 p.m. in order to register for the MCQ.

The venue for the MCQ is the Ionad Dara Community Centre, Chapel Street, Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny, eircode R95 D654.

The Range Test for successful candidates from this MCQ will take place on Saturday 25th July 2020 at the Midlands National Shooting Centre, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, commencing at 10.00 a.m.

Prevailing guidance on social distancing, wearing of face masks and other safety measures will be observed.

All HCAP-Certified Candidates are automatically enrolled as members of the Deer Alliance Association of HCAP-Certified Hunters and receive, in addition to their Certificate of Competence, a HCAP-Certified Hunter ID card and badge.

The following candidates are eligible for the HCAP MCQ on Saturday 11th July 2020:

ACATINCA, Vasilica
AMARANDEI, Vasile
ANDERSON, Jon
BURKE, David
CEBOTARI, Ion
COLE, David
CREAMER, Ronan
DEDAJ, Kristian
DOHERTY, Martin
DUNPHY, Garreth
DWYER, Michael
EDGE, Robert
FINN, Richard
FLAHERTY, James
FLYNN, Cathal
GUZUN, Grigore
HAMILL, Michael
HARMON, James
HARVEY, Brendan
HEAVEY, Lisa
HENDERSON, Simon
HUNT, William
HUTCHINSON, Robert
JASKIEWICZ, Roman
KENDELLEN, Barry
KENNY, Seán
KIRWAN, Robert
LABECKIS, Vitalijs
LANE, Billy
LARKIN, Andrea
McCARTHY, Dylan
McCARTHY, Seán
MANNINGHAM-BULLER, Edward
MAY, Sean
MURPHY, James
MURPHY, Paddy
MURPHY, Patrick
MURRAY, Ralph
O’CALLAGHAN, Michael
O’CONNELL, Gary
O’CONNOR, Tony
O’ROURKE, Kenneth
PASCALE, Florin
PODLASEK, Szymon
PHELAN, Thomas
PRICE, Warren
REID, Graeme
ROONEY, Paul
SIEDLEC, Adrian
STACEY, Ciarán
TICE, Patrick
WALKER, Ian
WALSH, Maurice
WAWRZYNIAK, Dawid
WAWRZYNIAK, Maciej
WHELAN, Andrew

Applications will remain open until close of business on 8th July 2020.

THREE VIEWS OF A WICKLOW HYBRID, SHOT IN 2018. DNA ANALYSIS PROVED THIS TO BE A RED DEER, CERVUS ELAPHUS, DESPITE APPEARANCES TO THE CONTRARY (click to enlarge).

For a view of the spread of sika deer in Scotland, where hybridisation looms in some areas, the Fieldsports Channel on Youtube offers a couple of short overviews of a perceived problem.

“Dealing with the Sika Swarm”, click here.
“Aliens and Natives”, click here.

“Giant”, Red stag in the New Forest, 2017

(click to enlarge)

Follow the life and times of a New Forest red deer stag from youth to old age. A remarkable YouTube series, chronicling the development and eventually, the demise of a magnificent stag.

To follow his life, click here.

Requiem: to view a tribute to a long life and the end of an era, click here.

As we are now in an enhanced Phase 2 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, we hope shortly to be able to announce a date for the next scheduled HCAP assessments (MCQ and Range Test).

The impact of Covid 19 on all aspects of our society has been significant but we are all hopeful that we can see the dawning of some degree of normality, thanks to the efforts of society as a whole.

We are determined that HCAP activities will resumed as soon as physically possible and we are grateful for the forbearance of those many candidates who are anxious to achieve HCAP Certification.

New dates will be arranged as soon as the situation is resolved, in the meanwhile HCAP Applications will continue to be processed the usual manner, and Stalker Training Manuals will continue to be issued in response to orders received.

The following candidates are eligible for the next scheduled HCAP assessment, when a new date is fixed. The list will be updated as further applications are received. Stay strong and stay safe!

ACATINCA, Vasilica, 2019/0081
BURKE, David, 2020/0011
CREAMER, Ronan, 2019/0081
DEDAJ, Kristian, 2019/0078
DOHERTY, Martin, 2020/0028
DUNPHY, Garreth, 2020/0006
DWYER, Michael, 2020/0029
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
O’ROURKE, Kenneth, 2020/0030
PASCALE, Florin, 2020/0001
PODLASEK, Szymon, 2020/0023
PRICE, Warren, 2020/0026
REID, Graeme, 2020/0009
ROONEY, Paul, 2020/0007
TICE, Patrick, 2018/0007
WALKER, Ian, 2020/0027
WALSH, Maurice, 2020/0005
WAWRZYNIAK, Dawid, 2020/0025
WAWRZYNIAK, Maciej, 2020/0024
WHELAN, Andrew, 2020/0017

(List updated 11th June 2020)