The following candidates (HCAP numbers, followed by mark achieved) were successful in the HCAP MCQ held in Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny, on Saturday 6th August 2016 and are eligible to participate in the HCAP Range Test to be held at the Midlands Range on Saturday 20th August 2016. Procedures for Range Tests will be posted separately or look for the previous post under the same heading.

2016/0094, 80%, PASS
2016/0085, 98%, PASS
2016/0008, 92%, PASS
2016/0088, 88%, PASS
2016/0090, 88%, PASS
2016/0091, 82%, PASS
2016/0049, 88%, PASS
2016/0086, 84%, PASS
2016/0080, 100%, PASS
2016/0077, 86%, PASS
2016/0095, 90%, PASS
2016/0078, 96%, PASS
2016/0087, 84%, PASS
2016/0089, 96%, PASS
2016/0073, 98%, PASS
2016/0084, 86%, PASS
2016/0093, 84%, PASS

All Candidates who attended this MCQ, 17 in number, were successful. A further 19 Eligible Candidates failed to attend, or deferred attendance. As this was the last MCQ in the 2016 Series, the next opportunity for these and future Candidates to participate in HCAP will be March 2017. Further announcements will be be made here as they arise.

Liam Nolan of the Deer Alliance presented Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine Andrew Doyle TD with a copy of the Deer Alliance Stalker Training Manual when members of the Irish Deer Management Forum met with the Minister on 27th July 2016 (photograph above, click to enlarge).

The meeting was held at the request of the Minister and was attended by the Convenors of the different Working Groups of the Forum. Liam Nolan is Convenor of the Forum’s Working Group on Communications, Best Practice and Training. The Forum has formally submitted a Recommendation to government on mandatory training, assessment and certification for all hunters as a pre-requisite before the granting of a Deer Hunting Licence. This Recommendation was recently adopted unanimously by all stakeholder representatives on the Forum and is now under consideration by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, the Gaeltacht & Rural Affairs and the Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine.

The Recommendation calls for Certification of Competency from an accredited source in knowledge of wild deer species, disease recognition, management, culling and safe methods of control, together with marksmanship and safe usage and storage of firearms, as a mandatory requirement before the grant of a licence to hunt wild deer; and that mandatory certification be introduced on a phased basis over a five year period commencing on the 1st day of January 2018 for existing holders of deer hunting licences, and with immediate effect from the same date for all new applicants for deer hunting licences.

It is intended that Certification of Competency be based on the Hunter Competence Assessment Programme (HCAP) model, to include extended training in addition to assessment and certification. HCAP is currently a requirement for hunters wishing to hunt deer on Coillte forest property. Approximately half of all deer hunters in Ireland have participated in HCAP since inception in 2005.

In response to demand and to accommodate candidates unable to participate on earlier dates in the year to date, a final MCQ will take place on Saturday 6th August 2016 at 4.00 p.m. in the Ionad Dara Community Centre, Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny. The MCQ will be preceded by an optional Training Workshop, 10.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m., add-on cost €50.00. Candidates wishing to attend the Workshop should confirm participation by email to deeralliance@gmail.com or by text to 086 1927 845.

The Range Test for successful candidates from this MCQ, and for those candidates already eligible from previous MCQs, will take place on Saturday 20th August 2016 (10.00 a.m. start) at the Midland National Shooting Centre, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

There will be no further HCAP Assessments taking place in 2016.

The following candidates are currently eligible to participate in the MCQ on 6th August 2016 (this list includes candidates who were no-shows or deferrals at previous MCQs):

(Candidates are requested to make a permanent note of their HCAP number)

APPLICATIONS FOR THIS MCQ ARE NOW CLOSED
AS OF 6.30 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY 3rd AUGUST 2016

Boyden, Owen, 2016/0094
Burke, Eoin, 2016/0085
Butler, Michael, 2016/0008
Brophy, Justin, 2016/0076
Brown, Bernard, 2016/0005
Carey, John Paul, 2016/0006
Carroll, Mark, 2016/0088
Caschera, Sandro, 2016/0090
Coady, Mark, 2014/0036
Cunningham, Brendan, 2016/0091
Cunningham, Bryan, 2016/0013
Curran, Tommy, 2016/0049
Day, Conor, 2015/0055
Duggan, James, 2016/0092
Eustace, John, 2016/0019
Flynn, Allan, 2016/0086
Geraghty, John, 2016/0077
Gillespie, Liam, 2016/0026
Horan, Michael, 2015/0009
Kearney, Alan, 2016/0078
Kirwan, Alan, 2016/0079
Martin, Neal, 2016/0087
McMillan, Gordon, 2016/0089
Mekss, Janis, 2016/0073
O’Reilly, Keith, 2015/0099
O’Sullivan, Rory, 2014/0094
Phelan, Patrick, 2014/0038
Pratt, Stephen, 2015/0014
Prendergast, Denis, 2016/010
Quilty, Liam, 2015/0054
Simms, Paul, 2016/0084
Stewart, Hugo, 2015/0051
Tighe, Patrick, 2015/0018
Tormay, Martin, 2016/0093
Vero, Ken, 2016/0038

APPLICATIONS FOR THIS MCQ ARE NOW CLOSED
AS OF 6.30 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY 3rd AUGUST 2016

The following Candidates (26 in number) are deemed to be HCAP-Certified following successful completion of the Range Test stage of the HCAP process on 30th April 2016.

Date of Certification: 16th July 2016.

Anscombe, Tony, 2016/0056
Carey, Kevin, 2016/0055
Colgan, Aidan, 2016/0052
Conway, Erig, 2016/0071
Cummins, Jim, 2016/0059
Daly, Adrian, 2016/0069
Downes, Callum, 2016/0058
Dutton, Ian, 2016/0062
Egan, William, 2007/0200
Harris, Patrick, 2016/0072
Hogan, Stephen, 2016/0065
Hughes, Gary, 2016/0057
McNamara, Keith, 2016/0066
Murphy, Michael, 2016/0064
Neary, Stephen, 2015/0100
O’Shea, Liam, 2016/0068
Phelan, John, 2016/0036
Pierce, Keith, 2016/0040
Rasmussen, Leonard, 2007/0081
Reid, Ben, 2016/0039
Sikula, Martin, 2015/0081
Slattery, Ray, 2016/0047
Taylor, Ivan, 2016/0067
Terry, James, 2016/0074
Ward, Michael, 2016/0063
Yeates, Garreth, 2016/0061

LOCATION MAPS TO MIDLAND NATIONAL SHOOTING GROUNDS, BLUE BALL, TULLAMORE, CO. OFFALY (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

All HCAP Candidates are required to note the following matters in relation to Range Tests conducted at the Midland National Shooting Grounds (“MRC”), at Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly:

1: Only Candidates who have passed the HCAP MCQ may take the HCAP Range Test.

2: Candidates must use a rifle of calibre legal for hunting deer in Ireland, i.e. minimum legal calibre .22/250.

3: All firearms must be transported in sleeves or cases. The firing bolt should be removed and carried separately. Firing bolts should be inserted only when preparing to shoot. At all times when not actually shooting, the bolt should be removed and a breech flag inserted.

4: All Candidates are required to carry fully adequate Shooting Insurance and must provide evidence of insurance to MRC on the day of any Range Test. Current Countryside Alliance, IFA Countryside or NARGC membership all satisfy the insurance requirement.

5: The law requires that a valid firearms certificate must be carried when using or transporting any firearm. The firearm certificate covers the “use, possession or carriage” of the firearm. MRC require HCAP Candidates to exhibit their firearm certificate before proceeding to the Range Test.

6: All Candidates are required to sign in at the main MRC check-in desk on arrival at the Range, and before proceeding to the Windmill Range on which the HCAP Range Tests take place, and to exhibit evidence of insurance and firearm certificate on request. No insurance, no Range Test; no Firearms Certificate, no Range Test.

7: Sound Moderators are permitted only where MRC Range Officials are satisfied that the Moderator is factory-fitted and that the firearm in question is in proof.

8: Following experimentation over a number of Range Tests, Deer Alliance HCAP has adopted the following procedures in respect of Range Tests:

a) All Candidates will be listed alphabetically (surname first) and allocated to firing details accordingly.
b) Each Firing Detail has up to 16 positions (up to 16 Candidates to each Detail).
c) The first Firing Detail will always kick off at 10 a.m. sharp, with approximately 45 minutes allowed for each Detail.
d) All Candidates are urged to arrive at MRC not later than 9.30 a.m. on the day of any Range Test, to allow time for registration procedures as set out above.
e) Thereafter, HCAP Range Officials will allocate positions on each Detail according to alphabetical order and actual presence on the Range.
f) Deferrals must be notified in writing (email or text message) to the Deer Alliance not less than 3 days before any Range Test. “No-shows”, i.e. non-attendance without notification, may result in loss of entitlement to complete the HCAP Certification programme.
g) The Range Test consists of accurate grouping of three shots in a four-inch circle at a distance of 100 metres, taken in the prone position; followed by accurate placement of six shots in the heart/lung area of a life-size deer target (two shots prone or sitting at 100 metres, two shots sitting or kneeling at sixty metres and two shots standing at 40 metres). Normal stalking aids may be used e.g. slings, bipods/tripods or stalking sticks. Candidates are permitted two attempts at the grouping target followed by one attempt at the deer target or one attempt at the grouping target and two attempts at the deer target.
h) After shooting, each Candidate, pass or fail, is given a slip with his or her name on it and indicating pass or fail, and attempts taken. This slip (pass or fail) must be presented to the HCAP Administrator Liam Nolan before leaving the Range in order to receive the HCAP Certificate and/or to register for any subsequent Range Test.
i) Candidates taking two or more attempts at the overall Range Test on any given day are required to pay a Repeat Fee of €25.00. The Repeat Fee if taking the Range Test for a second or further time on any subsequent Range Test day is €50.00. Repeats on the day of the Range Test are entirely at the discretion of the designated HCAP Range Officials.
j) Safety is paramount at all times and any lapse will be severely penalised. All Candidates are issued with the Deer Alliance “Safe Stalking” safety leaflet and. copies will be available at each Range Test. It is the responsibility of each Candidate to ensure that best practice safety procedures are followed at all times.

Enquiries by email to deeralliance@gmail.com.

Sika Hind. The Heart & Lung area is the designated point of aim for HCAP Range Tests.

The following Candidates are eligible to participate in the HCAP Range Test taking place at the Midland Rifle Range, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly on Saturday 16th July 2016. All Candidates are reminded of the “180-day Rule”, which provides that Candidates are required to complete the HCAP process, including their Range Test, within 180 days of sitting their first MCQ. Failure to complete within 180 days without notice and reasonable excuse may require the Candidate in question to start the process again, including re-sitting the MCQ. Candidates unable to participate should ensure they advise Deer Alliance HCP accordingly in advance of the date.

Candidates are listed to shoot alphabetically, in Firing Details of 15 shooters at a time. The Range Test will commence at 10 a.m. sharp and Candidates are required to be present at the Range not later than 9.30 a.m. in order to register to shoot and to receive a Safety Briefing. Candidates are required to sign in at the Range, to produce a valid Firearms Certificate in respect of the firearm to be used and to produce evidence of valid insurance cover.

Approximately forty minutes are allocated for each Firing Detail and Candidates can estimate their likely start time on this basis. However it is recommended that all Candidates be present on the Range from 9.30 a.m. as places will open up on each Detail where eligible Candidates fail to appear on time or at all. Candidates appearing after 12 noon will not be accommodated.

Candidates are reminded that zeroing of firearms is not permitted on the day of the Range Test.

A full rundown of procedures followed at HCAP Range Tests together with a location map will appear here separately.

Anscombe, Tony, 2016/0056
Carey, Kevin, 2016/0055
Colgan, Aidan, 2016/0052
Conway, Erig, 2016/0071
Cummins, Jim, 2016/0059
Daly, Adrian, 2016/0069
Downes, Callum, 2016/0058
Dutton, Ian, 2016/0062
Egan, William, 2007/0200
Fox, William, 2016/0051
Galbally, Geoffrey, 2016/0080
Harris, Patrick, 2016/0072
Hochstetler, Wendell, 2015/0008 (PNS)
Hogan, Stephen, 2016/0065
Hughes, Gary, 2016/0057
Lane, Michael, 2016/0075 (D)
McNamara, Keith, 2016/0066
Moloney, Enda, 2016/0009 (PNS)
Murphy, Michael, 2016/0064
Neary, Stephen, 2015/0100
O’Shea, Liam, 2016/0068
O’Sullivan, Anthony, 2016/0060
Phelan, John, 2016/0036 (PNS)
Pierce, Keith, 2016/0040
Rasmussen, Leonard, 2007/0081
Reid, Ben, 2016/0039
Sikula, Martin, 2015/0081 (R)
Slattery, Ray, 2016/0047 (PNS)
Strand, Jonas, 2016/0054
Strand, Patrick, 2016/0053
Taylor, Ivan, 2016/0067
Terry, James, 2016/0074
Ward, Michael, 2016/0063
Yeates, Garreth, 2016/0061

The following are the Google Maps references for Goresbridge, Co.Kilkenny:

www.google.ie/maps/@52.6303974,-6.9945441,16z

The Ionad Dara Centre is located beside the Church in Church Street, Goresbridge, see https://goo.gl/maps/6NiY2BcWoAk

Google Directions: www.google.ie/maps/dir/”/church+goresbridge/@52.6307022,-7.0659492,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x485d48d3f261038d:0x846fdac1800e0da7!2m2!1d-6.9959097!2d52.6307228

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.