The following candidates (HCAP numbers, followed by mark achieved) were successful in the HCAP MCQ held in Carlow on Saturday 31st July 2021and are eligible to participate in the HCAP Range Test to be held at the Midlands Range on Saturday 7th August 2021.

Procedures for Range Tests will be posted here separately shortly.

Candidates who were Deferrals or No-Shows at this MCQ on 31st July 2021 will be carried forward to the next scheduled MCQ, except where they have missed two or more MCQs without notice.

2021/0012, 94%, Pass
2021/0003, 98%, Pass
2021/0043, 96%, Pass
2021/0054, 94%, Pass
2021/0049, 98%, Pass
2021/0048, 96%, Pass
2021/0028, 96%, Pass
2021/0044, 90%, Pass
2021/0009, 98%, Pass
2021/0045, 96%, Pass
2021/0046, 96%, Pass
2021/0055, 98%, Pass
2021/0007, 94%, Pass
2021/0053, 96%, Pass
2021/0047, 82%, Pass
2021/0022, 92%, Pass
2021/0056,98%, Pass
2021/0051, 94%, Pass
2021/0021, 96%, Pass
2021/0052, 80%, Pass
2021/0057, 80%, Pass

On this occasion all participating candidates passed.

The following candidates (HCAP numbers, followed by mark achieved) were successful in the HCAP MCQ held in Carlow on Saturday 17th July 2021 and are eligible to participate in the HCAP Range Test to be held at the Midlands Range on Saturday 7th August 2021.

Procedures for Range Tests will be posted here separately shortly.

Candidates who were Deferrals or No-Shows at this MCQ on 17th July 2021 will be carried forward to the next scheduled MCQ, to be held on Saturday 31st July 2021, except where they have missed two or more MCQs without notice.

2020/0056, 96%, Pass
2021/0027, 96%, Pass
2021/0026, 96%, Pass
2021/0033, 94%, Pass
2021/0019, 92%, Pass
2021/0010, 92%, Pass
2021/0041, 90%, Pass
2021/0028, 92%, Pass
2021/0008 94%, Pass
2021/0017, 90%, Pass
2021/0040, 90%, Pass
2021/0037, 92%, Pass
2021/0035, 86%, Pass
2021/0034, 94%, Pass
2021/0014, 94%, Pass
2021/0031, 96%, Pass
2021/0036, 92%, Pass
2021/0029, 86%, Pass
2021/0032, 86%, Pass
2021/0030, 92%, Pass
2021/0004, 90%, Pass
2021/0015, 92%, Pass
2021/0002, 92%, Pass
2021/0042, 94%, Pass
2021/0039, 94%, Pass
2021/0020, 94%, Pass
2021/0013, 92%, Pass
2021/0005, 98%, Pass

On this occasion all participating candidates passed. Congratulations to all, we look forward to completion of the HCAP Certification process following the Range Test on 7th August 2021.

Applications are now open for a HCAP Training Workshop & MCQ taking place on Saturday 31st July 2021 at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Kilkenny Road, Carlow, R93 N207, 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. This will be followed by the supporting Range Test on Saturday 7th August 2021, to be held at the Midland Range, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, R35 NC58.

Places will be limited to fifty candidates in compliance with Covid-related restrictions and early application is recommended.

This date is in addition to the event taking place on 17th July 2021, applications for which closed on 17th June 2021 and which is fully subscribed.

Applications can be made online from the Home Page on the Deer Alliance website, www.deeralliance.ie.

Members of IFA Countryside can avail of a special offer which is subsidised by IFA Farm Business Skillnet, for more information click HERE.

In line with the jointly-agreed Deer Alliance and NPWS Syllabus for training and certification in advance of mandatory certification for all first-time applicants for a Deer Hunting Licence, attendance at the Training Workshop is no longer optional but it must be attended by all candidates. The agreed Syllabus, approved by NPWS, requires that face-to-face training be at least one day long (excluding the Range Test). The MCQ itself will run from 4.00 p.m. (one hour).

Thirty hours self-study of the Deer Alliance Stalker Training Manual is required in advance of the MCQ, in line with the syllabus for training agreed with NPWS. The Manual is available for purchase through the Online Applications Section of the website, cost €35.00.

HCAP is the longest established training programme for Irish deer stalkers (established in 2003 and providing training, assessment and certification since 2005), developed in partnership with all key stakeholders including Coillte Teoranta, National Parks & Wildlife Service, An Garda Síochána, Irish Farmers’ Association and deer bodies including the Irish Deer Society and the Wild Deer Association of Ireland. HCAP is approved by NPWS for the purpose of mandatory certification for first-time applicants for the Deer Hunting Licence (DHL), and accepted as evidence of competence for the purpose of firearms certificate applications by An Garda Síochána.

In particular, HCAP complies with the NPWS requirement that all interactive face-to-face training should occupy not less than one full day (excluding the Range Test, which is a test of marksmanship and not a training environment).

To date, over 3500 Irish hunters have been processed by HCAP.

LIST OF ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES, 31st JULY 2021

NOTE: This List includes a number of candidates who have been No-Shows at previous MCQs, without notice to Deer Alliance HCAP. These candidates cannot be carried forward indefinitely and may be de-listed as eligible if they miss another date without notice to Deer Alliance HCAP. In such cases they can only r-enter the process subject to the standard Repeat Fee of €50.00.

ARMSTRONG, Robert
BEHAN, Conor
BEWICK, Stuart
BYRNE, Tommy
CHURCH, Glynn
CONWAY, Kieran
COLE, Anthony
CORCORAN, Jamie
CORR, Francis
COTTER, Willie
CULBERT, Trevor
DEDAJ, Kristian
FOLEY, Ian
GRAHAM, Wesley
HANNON, Colm
HAMILL, Michael
HARMAN, Luke
HARVEY, Brendan
HARVEY, Stephen
HEALY, David
HENDERSON, Simon
HUTCHINSON, Robert
KELLY, Joe
KENDELLEN, Barry
KENEHAN, Ivan
KENEHAN, Mervyn
KENNY, Alan
LARKIN, Andrea
LAWLER, Ian
LAZZARI, Tojo
LEAMY, Maurice
LEAVY, Niall
MANNINGHAM-BULLER, Edward
McGRATH, Donie
MERRIGAN, Ian
MURPHY, Jam
MURPHY, Michael
MURPHY, Paddy
MURPHY, Patrick
O’CALLAGHAN, Michael
O’FLYNN, Declan
OLIVER, Mark
PAILLARD, Etienne
THOMPSON, Tom
REDMOND, Patrick
REGAN, Patrick
SCANLON, Callum
TREACHER, Nathan
QI Zhang
WALKER, Ian
YANG Li

This list will be updated as applications are received. Last update, 27.7.2021

1st July 2021

CONFIRMATION OF HCAP EVENT ON SATURDAY 17th JULY 2021

We are pleased to confirm that our next scheduled HCAP Training Workshop and MCQ will, as previously announced, take place on Saturday 17th July 2021 at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Kilkenny Road, Carlow, R93 N207, commencing 10.00 a.m. sharp.

Attendance will be limited to 50 persons, grouped in pods of 6, spaced in line with public health recommendations. Masks should be worn by all candidates.

APPLICATIONS FOR THIS EVENT ARE NOW CLOSED, AS OF 27th JUNE 2021. 

In line with the jointly-agreed Deer Alliance and NPWS Syllabus for training and certification in advance of mandatory certification for all first-time applicants for a Deer Hunting Licence, attendance at the Training Workshop is no longer optional but it must be attended by all candidates. The agreed Syllabus, approved by NPWS, requires that face-to-face training be at least one day long (excluding the Range Test). The MCQ itself will run from 4.00 p.m. (one hour).

Thirty hours self-study of the Deer Alliance Stalker Training Manual is required in advance of the MCQ, in line with the syllabus for training agreed with NPWS. The Manual is available for purchase through the Online Applications Section of the website, cost €35.00.

HCAP is the longest established training programme for Irish deer stalkers (established in 2003 and providing training, assessment and certification since 2005), developed in partnership with all key stakeholders including Coillte Teoranta, National Parks & Wildlife Service, An Garda Síochána, Irish Farmers’ Association and deer bodies including the Irish Deer Society and the Wild Deer Association of Ireland. HCAP is approved by NPWS for the purpose of mandatory certification for first-time applicants for the Deer Hunting Licence (DHL), and accepted as evidence of competence for the purpose of firearms certificate applications by An Garda Síochána.

In particular, HCAP complies with the NPWS requirement that all interactive face-to-face training should occupy not less than one full day (excluding the Range Test, which is a test of marksmanship and is not a training environment).

To date, over 3500 Irish hunters have been processed by HCAP.

See below for a list of those candidates currently eligible to participate in this training and assessment date on 17th July 2021.

The list includes all confirmed (paid) applications received since our last MCQ and Range Test in 2020.

Some previous candidates have been de-listed as eligible due to repeated non-attendance at scheduled MCQs in 2019 and 2020. Such candidates can re-apply for assessment and certification, subject to the standard Repeat Fee of €50.00.

The Range Test for successful candidates from this MCQ will take place at the Midland Range (MNSCI), Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly,  R35 NC58, on Saturday 7th August 2021 commencing at 10.00 a.m. sharp.

ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES

ARMSTRONG, Robert
BABBINGTON, Robert
BEHAN, Conor
BERGIN, Patrick
BEWICK, Stuart
BROADERS, Jordan
BROADERS, Rees
BYRNE, Tommy
CANTWELL, Ted
COLOHAN, Donal
COOKE, Declan
COOKE, Eamonn
CORBETT, Burke
CORR, Francis
COTTER, Willie
CULBERT, Trevor
DEDAJ, Kristian
DIXON, Connor
DIXON, Robbie
DOWLING, Mark
DOYLE, Anthony
EARLEY, Brendan
FOLEY, Ian
GATELY, Leo
HANNON, Colm
HAMILL, Michael
HARMAN, Luke
HARVEY, Brendan
HARVEY, Stephen
HEALY, David
HENDERSON, Simon
HUTCHINSON, Robert
KELLY, Joe
KENNY, Alan
KENDELLEN, Barry
LARKIN, Andrea
LAWLER, Ian
LAZZARI, Tojo
LEAVY, Niall
MANNINGHAM-BULLER, Edward
McALEVEY, Norman
MERRIGAN, Ian
MURPHY, James
MURPHY, Paddy
MURPHY, Patrick
O’BRIEN, John
O’CALLAGHAN, Michael
O’CONNOR, Dean
O’FLYNN, Declan
O’FLYNN, Sean
O’NEILL, Simon
O’TOOLE, Geoffrey
PAILLARD, Etienne
REDMOND, Patrick
ROGERS, Shane
SCANLON, Callum
STYNES, Christopher
TREACHER, Nathan
TYLICKI, Marcin
WALKER, Ian
WALSH, Liam
WATSON, Christopher
WEYRES, Juergen
WILKINSON, Thomas

CANDIDATES WHO ARE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE ON 17th JULY 2021 WILL BE CARRIED FORWARD TO THE NEXT SCHEDULED DATE (TBC) AFTER 17th JULY PROVIDED THEY NOTIFY DEER ALLIANCE HCAP IN ADVANCE.

This list will be updated as applications are received. Last update 2.7.2021.

Do you come in contact with Deer?

If so, this information meeting is for you! Learn all about Smartdeer; a UCD initiative.

Wednesday 30th June 2021, 7pm.

If interested, email: countryside@ifa.ie

We will then send you the details of how to join the meeting.

You can also speak to Barbara in the IFA Countryside Office on 01 4260368 or 1890 924 982

Closer working relationships on the very serious issue of wildlife crime have been established between An Garda Siochána and the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Yesterday, Wednesday June 23, the Minister for Housing, Local Government & Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister of State for Heritage & Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD and the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, Drew Harris, launched and signed a Protocol between the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) and An Garda Síochána (AGS) on tackling wildlife crime. This Protocol was developed to establish closer working relationships between both organisations.

This Protocol came about following the National Biodiversity Conference in Dublin in 2019 as one of the “Seeds for Nature”. Informal relationships already existed between authorised officers under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 of both NPWS & AGS and this protocol will build on that to provide for enhanced and nationwide working relationships especially in the areas of communications, intelligence sharing and joint operations.

On the launch of the Protocol Minister O’Brien said: “We committed in our programme for government to reviewing the protection of our natural heritage. The Protocol announced here today is an important step towards strengthening that protection. I wholeheartedly welcome it and commend those behind this initiative.”

Heritage Minister Noonan welcomed the signing of this Protocol. “To effectively deal with wildlife crime in this country, robust and strategic cooperation between the NPWS and An Garda Síochána is critically important. This Protocol marks a significant step towards that by progressing the communication channels, information sharing and joint operations that are so urgently needed. There have been a number of devastating wildlife crimes in recent years, including the shooting dead and poisoning of birds of prey, poaching, wild fires and the persecution of badgers, and they need to be tackled head on. This Protocol will go a long way towards achieving that, in tandem with the new Wildlife Crime Unit that is currently being established within the NPWS. I’m delighted to see this important work coming to fruition and would like to thank An Garda Síochána for their engagement and collaboration with NPWS on this issue.”

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said: “The establishment of the Joint Protocol is another significant step in our ongoing efforts to work closely with all of our stakeholders. I am very aware of the impact that wildlife crime can have on our communities, particularly in rural areas, and the Protocol now provides for each Garda Division to appoint a dedicated Liaison Inspector to work alongside their respective District Conservation Officers in the National Parks and Wildlife Service. I am confident that the signing of the Joint Protocol will facilitate a strategic working relationship, establish clearer lines of communication, intelligence sharing and participation in joint planned operations between An Garda Síochána and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. This will help in our ongoing efforts to prevent and detect wildlife crime and thus protect our precious natural diversity.”

“Wildlife Crimes” are offences against laws which protect wild plants, animals and habitats. Amongst the most important of these laws are the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2018 and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. Both the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Minister with responsibility for nature conservation may bring prosecutions for such offences. The latter is the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is part of the Heritage Division of that Department.

Members of An Garda Síochána (AGS) and authorised officers of the NPWS are empowered to investigate suspected wildlife offences and bring proposals for prosecution. For this reason, AGS and NPWS have often engaged with one another when investigating wildlife offences. In the main, such engagement has been informal and conducted at local level. This new Protocol formalises this relationship and provides for structured co-operation at national, regional and local levels, throughout the State. Not only will this serve to “de-conflict” situations where simultaneous investigations by both organisations might be ongoing (thereby ensuring that “the left hand knows what the right hand is doing”) but it is expected to bring significant synergy to wildlife law enforcement in Ireland.

Wild boar pictured in Kerry. Photograph: Radio Kerry

The Irish Times today 16th June 2021 carries reports of a large male boar running wild in Kerry. According to the report, six of seven of the alien species were ‘dispatched humanely’ but one remains on the loose, says wildlife service.

Members of the public in Kerry are asked to report any sightings of a large male boar running wild in the Mount Eagle area and not to approach the animal.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has moved quickly to capture a number of the animals, now an alien species, after a report came in from the area on Tuesday.

However, one large male has not been located and is now running wild.

Once native to Kerry – some well-known placenames, such as Torc near Killarney as well as Muckross, trace their origins to the wild boar which fed on the acorns of the local oak woodlands– boar in the wild are now an invasive species and are brought in illegally.

It is currently an offence without a current licence to release certain species into the wild which may have serious implications for native flora and fauna, the Department of Housing and Heritage has said.

“Such releases are not only illegal, but they also pose a very serious threat to the disease-free status of the national herd. There could be dire consequences if diseases such as blue tongue or African swine flu were to be present or if these highly contagious disease were unintentionally introduced,” it said.

On Tuesday, June 15th NPWS regional staff were made aware of the presence of approximately seven animals fitting the description of feral pig/wild boar by a concerned landowner in the Castleisland area.

Six of the seven were “dispatched humanely” and they included four females and two piglets, regional manager of the NPWS in Kerry, Séamus Hassett, said on Radio Kerry on Wednesday morning. However, the male boar is still at large. Mr Hassett appealed to the public not to approach the animal but to report any sightings directly to the NPWS in Killarney National Park on 064 6635215. The NPWS was very grateful to the landowner for reporting the boar, he said.

(Irish Times, Thursday 16th June 2021)

The following is an extract from Coillte’s South East Leinster BAU Draft Five Year Forest Plan, available on the Coillte website HERE.

Wild deer on Coillte’s estate is managed in accordance with accepted principles of Sustainable Deer Management (SDM) whereby, the conservation, control and use of the species will be balanced in order to achieve an integrated and collaborative solution to achieving viable deer populations across the Coillte estate at levels which are in harmony with their environment. To this end Coillte maintain Deer Management Plans (DMP) for all areas where deer are present.

Wild deer are present on over 60% of the Coillte estate. Through browsing and bark-stripping trees, deer can have a considerable negative impact on any tree crop and on tree species selection as well as the quality, yield and survival of forest crops. Deer can also impact land use objectives on neighbouring lands and can be a major health and safety hazard, particularly on public roads.

Deer are wild animals free to roam across large areas of multiple land ownerships. They are a protected species, and one which attracts considerable attention and differing views as to how they should be managed. A key aspect of successful deer management is establishing a collaborative approach between all key stakeholders within the deer’s range at landscape level. A considerable element of this process is the acceptance of shared responsibility by all landowners in the area of their role to ensure the effective management of the deer utilising their lands.

Coillte have demonstrated considerable commitment and leadership in recent years in developing collaborative deer management and the establishment of training standards for deer hunters. At National level the company was instrumental in the establishment of the Hunter Competence Assessment Programme (HCAP) and the Irish Deer Management Forum, a group which has been disbanded since the retirement of its Chairperson and which Coillte wish to re-instate (emphasis added). At Regional and local level Coillte are active participants in a number of deer management partnerships and groups.

The impacts to Coillte’s crops are generally localised, predominately in areas with high deer density. A breakdown of deer species abundance has been gathered countrywide coupled with damage inflicted on crops. Damage is mainly confined to the browsing of broadleaved trees and some more palatable conifers such as Scots pine, Douglas fir, larch and Norway spruce. Deer populations are principally controlled through the issue of hunting licences.

Deer management in Coillte is coordinated nationally through a new Deer Oversight Group which was established in 2020. This group is comprised of staff from Estates, Operations, Public Relations and Recreation.

Coillte’s summary deer management policy can be viewed HERE.

As part of planned work for 2021, Coillte’s Deer Oversight Group will review and update the current deer management policy and all supporting documentation.

Coillte’s Draft Forest Five Year Plans are now published on the Coillte website, www.coillte.ie. Coillte will finalize their forest plans for the period 2021 – 2025 in the coming months.  During this time they invite stakeholders to engage with them and submit their recommendations into this consultation process.  There are 4 stages in this public consultation process as outlined below :-

Coillte’s draft plans are available on their website HERE.

Stakeholders are invited to submit views and recommendations during Phase 3.  This public consultation period runs from Monday 14th June 2021 until Friday 23rd July 2021 (6 weeks).  Submissions may be sent by email to consultation@coillte.ie.  (Please note that due to the current health crisis Coillte offices are currently closed so they cannot accept submissions by post).

The Wildlife Licensing Unit (WLU) of National Parks & Wildlife Service have issued an appeal to stakeholders and potential DHL applicants not to delay in submitting their applications but to get them in NOW to avoid a backlog building up over July and August, which could lead to delays in the issue of licences beyond the Season start date of 1st September.

The WLU have to date issued approximately 3000 licences for the Season 2021-2022, which would leave roughly another 2500 to 3000 applications outstanding. They currently have the capacity to process licences received in an efficient and timely manner. However, if they were to receive all outstanding applications at the last minute in August then they cannot guarantee that appropriate level of customer service.

Hunters intending to make application for DHLs for the coming season are strongly advised not to delay but to get their applications in as soon as possible. The application Form is available on the NPWS website and applications by email are preferred.

Click HERE for a link to the relevant section of the NPWS website.

The need for written landowner permission has been waived for this year for hunters having previously held a licence.

For persons hunting on Coillte forest property there should be no delay in obtaining Coillte Permits for Licensees or Nominated Stalkers as Coillte have waived licence fees for the coming year 2021-2022 where licence holders have met their obligations for the season 2020-2021, provided insurance is in place through to the end of the licence period at end February 2022.

Note that DHLs issued now will be post-dated to 1st August 2021 but DO NOT confer any authority to hunt deer during the Closed Season 1st March to 31st August. A Section 42 licence is required to hunt deer during the Closed Season except for certain narrow circumstances provided for under the Wildlife Act 1976 (as amended).

So hunters, don’t delay, get your application in as soon as possible!