The Range Test for HCAP Candidates having successfully completed their MCQs on 9th March & 20th April 2019 will take place on Saturday 4th May 2019 at the Midland National Shooting Ground, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, commencing at 10.00 a.m. sharp. The list includes candidates eligible for the Range Test following qualification at previous MCQs but having deferred their Range Test on previous occasions. Such candidates are reminded that if having deferred two or more Range Tests, they miss the Range Test on 4th May 2019 they will be delisted as eligible and may complete their HCAP only by re-entering for the Range Test stage and paying a Repeat Fee of €50.00.

Candidates should be present from 9.30 a.m. in order to sign in and to exhibit their current Firearms Certificate and evidence of insurance. Candidates are listed alphabetically and will shoot in firing details of multiple shooters (usually twenty shooters in each detail). Procedures to be followed at each Range Test are posted separately.

ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES

Buckley, Brendan
Burke, Brian
Burke, Ronan
Breslin, Charles
Byrne, Brian Patrick
Byrne, Michael
Casey, John
Ciobirca, Andrei
Condren, Sean
Corcoran, Jonathan
Dalton, John
Davitt, Michael
Delaney, Conor
Douglas, Conor
Dunne, Philip
Durnin, David
Hall, Kenneth
Heffernan, Clive
Holmes, John
Hussey, Fergus
Ivanoff, Eftim
Jackson, Greg
Kavanagh, Richard
Kelleher, Jason
Kelly, Gavin
Kerr, Victor
Kirby, Colm
Lucas, Nik
Lucas, Timothy
Mahon, Sean
Martin, David
McDaid, Patrick
Moore, Ordhran
Mullen, Gary
Mulligan, Padraig
O’Brien, Kieran
O’Driscoll, Darren
O’Toole, Niall
Robertson, Drew
Shanahan, Maurice
Sweeney, John
Toomey, Ian
Venables, Aaron
Vicol, Tudor
Webbon, Peter
Yavtushenko, Valeriy

The following candidates (HCAP numbers, followed by mark achieved) were successful in the HCAP MCQ held in Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny, on Saturday 20th April 2019 and are eligible to participate in the HCAP Range Test to be held at the Midlands Range, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly on Saturday 4th May 2019. Procedures for Range Tests will be posted here separately in due course.

Candidates who were Deferrals or No-Shows at this MCQ on 20th April 2019 will be carried forward to the next scheduled MCQ in 2019, except where they have missed two or more MCQs without notice (date to be announced here when finalised).

2019/0034, 94%, Pass
2019/0033, 88%, Pass
2019/0014, 100%, Pass
2019/0023, 94%, Pass
2019/0037, 90%, Pass
2019/0026, 80%, Pass
2019/0019, 100%, Pass
2019/0032, 96%, Pass
2018/0075, 98%, Pass
2019/0022, 96%, Pass
2019/0036, 80%, Pass
2019/0035, 96%, Pass

(Successful Candidates from the HCAP MCQ on Saturday 20th March 2019 are also eligible for the same Range Test)

Fallow Buck in velvet (click to enlarge)

The next HCAP MCQ in the 2019 Series will take place on Saturday 20th April 2019 (3.30 p.m.) in 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 4th May 2019 at the Midland National Shooting Ground, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly from 10.00 a.m.

Candidates unable to participate on 20th April 2019 will be automatically carried forward to the next scheduled MCQ, the date of which will be fixed and notified here in due course, as soon as confirmed.

ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES:

Bishti, Karl
Buckley, Brendan
Breslin, Charles
Byrne, Brian Patrick
Ciobirca, Andrei
Corcoran, Jonathan
Delaney, Conor
Douglas, Conor
Edge, Robert
Flaherty, James
Kerr, Victor
Mackevicius, Arunas
McManus, Rory
O’Brien, Kieran
O’Driscoll, Darren
Quinlan, Ken
Tice, Patrick
Vicol, Tudor
Webbon, Peter
Whelan, John

The MCQ will be supported by an optional Training Workshop, running from 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. on the same day as the MCQ (same venue). The Workshop is subject to an add-on cost of €50.00. Bookings for the Workshop can be made by text message to 086 1927 845 or by email to deeralliance@gmail.com. Payment €50.00 is made on the day.

Irish Trophy Commission Accredited Head Measurers Pat Scully, Peter Gregory, John Clooney, John Manley and Jonathan Murphy (click to enlarge)

The Irish Trophy Commission recently inducted a number of newly Certified and Accredited Head Measurers following a Training Day held in Laragh, Co. Wicklow on Saturday 2nd March 2019.

The Deer Alliance supports the evaluation of trophies as a by-product of clear aims and objectives of a successful deer management program based on establishing a healthy, sustainable population.

HCAP-Certified hunters who wish to have heads evaluated and possibly leading to certification as Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze Medal heads can contact the Irish Trophy Commission by email at irishtrophycommission@gmail.com.

Below: Liam Nolan and Liam McGarry (Deer Alliance HCAP) with Joe Murphy (Irish Trophy Commission) and newly inducted Measurers Peter Gregory, John Clooney and John Manley (click to enlarge)

The following candidates (HCAP numbers, followed by mark achieved) were successful in the HCAP MCQ held in Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny, on Saturday 9th March 2019 and are eligible to participate in the HCAP Range Test to be held at the Midlands Range on Saturday 4th May 2019. Procedures for Range Tests will be posted here separately in due course.

Candidates who were Deferrals or No-Shows at this MCQ on 9th March 2019 will be carried forward to the next scheduled MCQ in 2019, (date to be announced here when finalised) except where they have missed two or more MCQs without notice .

2019/0005, 84%, Pass
2018/0126, 98%, Pass
2019/0024, 98%, Pass
2018/0125, 94%, Pass
2019/0002, 94%, Pass
2019/0029, 100%, Pass
2018/0124, 80%, Pass
2019/0008, 90%, Pass
2019/0010, 98%, Pass
2019/0004, 92%, Pass
2019/0007, 94%, Pass
2019/0027, 98%, Pass
2019/0003, 86%, Pass
2019/0001, 88%, Pass
2019/0030, 96%, Pass
2019/0006, 90%, Pass
2018/0123, 86%, Pass
2019/0021, 86%, Pass
2019/0017, 94%, Pass
2019/0020, 96%, Pass
2019/0018, 94%, Pass
2018/0128, 88%, Pass
2019/0011, 88%, Pass
2018/0122, 90%, Pass
2019/0015, 88%, Pass
2019/0016, 84%, Pass
2019/0025, 86%, Pass
2019/0013, 98%, Pass
2019/0012, 92%, Pass
2019/0009, 94%, Pass
2019/0028, 90%, Pass

The following candidate (HCAP number, followed by mark achieved) was unsuccessful and is required to re-sit the MCQ stage before proceeding to any Range Test. The application fee for Repeat Candidates is €50.00. “Fail” grades may be appealed to the HCAP Assessment Committee, subject to written application accompanied by re-checking fee, €50.00. Where written application for re-checking is received, it is reviewed by the Committee at the next scheduled Committee meeting following receipt of application. Applications for re-checking must be received within 10 (ten) days of publication of results on this blog. Any “Fail” Candidate from 9th March 2019 will have an opportunity to re-sit the MCQ in April/May 2019, subject to applying as Repeat Candidates.

2019/0026, 62%, Fail

The Deer Alliance Stalker Training Manual, on which the MCQ is based, is an optional purchase, cost €35.00 inc. p. & p. The Manual can be purchased through the Online Applications section of the Deer Alliance website.

The first HCAP MCQ in the 2019 Series will take place on Saturday 9th March 2019 (3.30 p.m.) in 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 4th May 2019 at the Midland National Shooting Ground, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly from 10.00 a.m.

APPLICATIONS FOR THIS HCAP MCQ ARE NOW CLOSED.

CANDIDATES UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE ON 9th MARCH 2019 WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY CARRIED FORWARD TO THE NEXT SCHEDULED MCQ, THE DATE OF WHICH WILL BE FIXED AND NOTIFIED HERE IN DUE COURSE, AS SOON AS CONFIRMED.

ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES:

Burke, Brian
Burke, Ronan
Breslin, Charles
Byrne, Brian Patrick
Byrne, Michael
Casey, John
Condren, Sean
Corcoran, Jonathan
Dalton, John
Davitt, Michael
Delaney, Conor
Douglas, Conor
Durnin, David
Edge, Robert
Flaherty, James
Hall, Kenneth
Heffernan, Clive
Holmes, John
Hussey, Fergus
Jackson, Greg
Kavanagh, Richard
Kelleher, Jason
Kelly, Gavin
Kirby, Colm
Lucas, Nik
Lucas, Timothy
Mackevicius, Arunas
Mahon, Sean
Martin, David
McDaid, Patrick
Moore, Ordhran
Mullen, Gary
Mulligan, Padraig
O’Toole, Niall
Quinlan, Ken
Robertson, Drew
Sweeney, John
Tice, Patrick
Toomey, Ian
Venables, Aaron
Webbon, Peter
Whelan, John
Yavtushenko, Valeriy

The MCQ will be supported by an optional Training Workshop, running from 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. on the same day as the MCQ (same venue). Bookings for the Workshop can be made by text message to 086 1927 845 or by email to deeralliance@gmail.com. Payment €50.00 is to be made on the day.

This HCAP Certificate could be yours!

(Click to enlarge)

The first Deer Alliance Hunter Competence Assessment Programme (HCAP) MCQ of the 2019 Series will take place on Saturday 9th March 2019 at 3.30 p.m. in the Ionad Dara Community Centre, Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny. Applications are now open and can be made through the Online Applications section of the Deer Alliance website, www.deeralliance.ie.

The MCQ (50-question Multiple Choice Question written examination) take 50 minutes to complete and will be followed in May by the Range Test stage of the process, which takes place on Saturday 4th May 2019 (commencing at 10.00 a.m. sharp) at the Midland Range, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

HCAP cost remains fixed at €165.00.

The MCQ will be supported by an optional Training Workshop, running from 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. on the same day as the MCQ (same venue). Bookings for the Workshop can be made by text message to 086 1927 845 or by email to deeralliance@gmail.com. Payment €50.00 is made on the day.

The Deer Alliance Stalker Training Manual, on which the MCQ is based, is an optional purchase, cost €35.00 inc. p. & p. The Manual can be purchased through the Online Applications section of the website.

Hunters are reminded of the Ministerial commitment “to consider the introduction of an appropriate training and certification process for first time applicants for deer hunting licences to commence from a date which will be determined in due course but certainly no later than 2020”.

The Minister’s full statement on certification for licensed deer hunters can be found on the NPWS website (click here).

Certification will be required for the grant of a Deer Hunting Licence (DHL) on private land as well as on Coillte forest property, on which it has been mandatory since 2005. The effect of the Ministerial commitment is that certification will become mandatory for all first-time DHL applicants this year (2019), and for all existing holders of the DHL from a date to be fixed.

Approximately 50% of all existing licensed deer hunters (holders of the DHL) are HCAP-Certified.

The following article on illegal hunting of wildlife (including deer) by Debbie McCann appeared recently on the online news source, Extra.ie

‘Psycho’ poachers, who have been uploading pictures of their illegal kills on social media sites are driving an increase in wildlife crime that gardaí say is now reaching epidemic proportions.
The activities of bloodthirsty illegal hunters and poachers have grown to such an extent that more than 60 gardaí have signed up for special training in this area at the National Parks and Wildlife Service this week.

Instances of gangs ‘posting with impunity’ on social media has led to a greater-than-ever prevalence of badger baiting, as well as deer, hare and bird poaching.

Conservation ranger Noel Bulger told gardaí: ‘It is a huge problem. There are psycho poachers out there. Social media is driving it, with a “Look what I have done” mindset.’ Some of the ‘bloodcurdling’ footage shown to gardaí at the training day included scenes of badgers being ripped from their setts by dogs, hares being torn apart and gangs posing on social media with ‘trophies’ of the animals they have killed.

Three inspectors have been appointed as wildlife liaison officers, while a further 62 gardaí were trained up on the appropriate legislation. The inspectors are based in Kildare, Wicklow and Westmeath, while the other gardaí are from the Eastern region.

Superintendent Martin Walker, of Kildare Garda Station, told Extra.ie that inspectors have been appointed with wildlife crime as part of their portfolio of responsibilities. He said: ‘We haven’t the luxury of having a wildlife crime unit. The wildlife rangers can now work with them specifically when they have an issue in their county.’

The Superintendent said specially trained wildlife inspectors are needed across the country. ‘The reality is that for the last 18 months, the media has addressed the issue of farm trespass, or farm invasion, as I would say. ‘There is a need for it for the sake of the farmers and also the animals who suffer tremendous cruelty. It is part of our natural heritage. We must keep them here for generations to come.’

Mr Bulger told the Gardaí how there had been a problem with ‘lurching’ — hare hunting with dogs — in north Co Dublin before ¬Christmas and that people were ‘terrorised’.

A ‘successful’ joint initiative with Gardaí as part of Operation Thor — a national crackdown on burglaries — helped to bring the situation under control. The conservation ranger said that badger baiting was happening in most counties and that ‘serious criminals’ were involved. ‘Bad people are doing it. As you saw from the footage, it is bloodcurdling to watch the badger being attacked by dogs.’

Mr Bulger also said that badgers are being removed from their setts and taken to a ‘clandestine arena’ where dogs are set on them. Supt Walker, who has been leading the way in the Gardaí in relation to wildlife crime, recalled how Gardaí were called after a six-man gang threatened a farmer and hunted on his land over three days last weekend. However, the farmer refused to make a statement on the matter out of fear.

‘There was a community alert that went around with a picture of a vehicle. A gang of six called in last Friday, Saturday and Sunday and threatened him and they went in and hunted across his land. ‘He reported it when they were gone. We know who they are, but he won’t make a statement of complaint.’ He said: ‘It is my theory these gangs also scope out the security arrangements on these farms.’

Wicklow and Kildare are ‘prime’ areas for the deer poaching, while Laois and Offaly are badly hit with gangs of hare poachers. In Kildare alone there are six live wildlife cases scheduled to be heard at different dates between now and March. These include two deer, two finch and two hare cases.

Wexford is also currently being targeted by the hare poachers, who are being driven out of the Eastern Garda Region because of a clampdown. A source told Extra.ie: ‘The guys behind it were prosecuted in the Eastern Region and now they are going to softer terrain. ‘They’re moving away from our area and going elsewhere. If we had everyone singing from the one hymn sheet, it would be great”.

‘Four units from Kildare and Wicklow were out with the NPSW on Friday evening. We need to keep the pressure on,’ the source said.

Killarney Red Deer (photograph by Michelle Cooper Galvin). Click to enlarge.

The newly-formed Irish Deer Commission joins the ranks of bodies dedicated to the best-practice management and conservation of wild deer in Ireland and invites membership applications, click here or here.

For recent commentary from the IDC’s Damien Hannigan on the proposed “significant” planned cull of red deer in Killarney National Park, click here.

The IDC will host a Rut Walk and Wildlife Photography talk in Killarney National Park to watch one of nature’s amazing spectacles, the annual Red Deer Rut which has taken place continuously in Kerry for over 6,000 years. This event is hosted by National Parks and Wildlife Service and is free of charge The walk takes place at the peak of the Red deer rut on Sunday October 14th 2018. Further information on the IDC website and pre-booking is advised.

Meanwhile, the Irish Deer Society is the longest-established deer organisation in Ireland and also invites support. For more information, click here.

The Wild Deer Association of Ireland also invites membership. Click here to learn more or email secretarywdai@gmail.com (postal address PO Box 67, Kinsale, Co. Cork), or ‘phone 087 687 8228.

HCAP-CERTIFIED CANDIDATES 4th AUGUST 2018

The following Candidates (13 total) are deemed to be HCAP-Certified following successful completion of their HCAP Assessment after the Range Test held on 4th August 2018 (names, followed by HCAP Number).

Date of Certification: 4th August 2018.

Adamus, Lukasz, 2018/0100
Barry, James, 2018/0117
Burke, Conor, 2018/0113
Butler, Brian, 2018/0114
Brennan, Gary, 2018/0121
Cherek, Marcin, 2018/0118
Dallaghan, Maurice, 2018/0069
Fenton, Roland, 2018/0107
Kecskes, Zoltan, 2018/0120
Lambert, Kevin, 2018/0111
Leskovics, Aldis, 2018/0119
Murphy, Robert, 2018/0116
Ó Conchubhair, Nick, 2018/0109

All Candidates in attendance were successful on this occasion and were presented with their HCAP Certificates, ID Cards and Badges at the conclusion of their successful Range Test. A high standard of marksmanship was evident from all candidates. Thanks go to HCAP Range Officers Pat Scully and Liam McGarry for their able administration of the Range Test, also to Tony Saunders and all at Midland National Shooting Centre of Ireland for their usual very professional management of the Test on the Range.

This Range Test was the last in the 2018 Series. HCAP Assessments are not conducted during the Open Season, September to February inclusive. Applications received during this period will be listed for HCAP in 2019, commencing in March. Dates for MCQs and Range Tests will be announced here in the New Year.

Candidates who were No-Shows on this occasion will be carried forward to the next scheduled Range Test in 2019, except where they have missed two or more Range Tests, in which cases they are automatically de-listed as eligible and can complete their HCAP only on payment of the standard HCAP Repeat Fee (€50.00).