The following Candidates (36 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: 30th April 2016.

Bailey, Noel, 2016/0022
Berns, Philip, 2016/0028
Blaney, Nigel, 2016/0025
Dolan, Charles, 2016/0014
Dolan, Conor, 2016/0015
Dunphy, John, 2016/0029
Elliott, Andrew, 2016/0020
Farrell, Dean, 2016/0004
Fegan, William, 2016/0027
Ferguson, Paul, 2016/0003
Fitzsimons, Adrian, 2016/0021
Fox, Patrick, 2016/0018
Hannon, Gerard, 2016/0035
Hick, Ed, 2016/0030
Hossein-Pour, Abdolreza, 2016/0002
Jones, Paul, 2016/0017
Kennedy, Charles, 2016/0046
Kennedy, James, 2016/0045
Maher, Eddie, 2016/0037
Maxon, Nigel, 2016/0011
Maxon, Peter, 2016/0007
McCarthy, James, 2016/0012
McCullough, Ray, 2016/0041
McGuinness, Declan, 2016/0023
Mogaldea, Vladimir, 2016/0034
Motherway, Neil, 2016/0001
Murphy, Padraig, 2016/0024
Neilan, Shane, 2016/0050
O’Byrne, Donagh, 2016/0031
O’Toole, Paul, 2016/0048
Pedreschi, Daniel, 2016/0016
Pop-Buia, Petrica, 2016/0033
Redmond, Noel, 2015/0031
Rossiter, John, 2016/0044
Scallan, Richard, 2016/0043
Teelan, Martin, 2016/0032

All participating candidates were successful, congratulations to all. Thanks to John Paul Craven and Tony Saunders of the Midland Range for their assistance, and to Deer Alliance Range Officers Pat Scully, Liam McGarry, John Flynn and John Manley.

Applications for Deer Hunting Licences are considered under Section 29(1) of the Wildlife Act 1976 to 2012. Licences are issued on an annual basis from early August, but not before, as the licensing season does not start generally until 1st September.

If you held a licence for the 2015 – 2016 deer hunting season, you will receive a letter advising you to make an application for the new season which, if you require a new licence, should be made as soon as possible.

If you are a new applicant, you must complete the application form and have permission from a landowner(s) to hunt deer on land of at least 100 acres.  Click on 2016 Deer Hunting Circular, application form, guidance note and landowner permission form to download or, alternatively, copies of the documents can be obtained by post by contacting:

Wildlife Licensing Unit,  
National Parks and Wildlife Service,
Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht,
7 Ely Place,
Dublin 2, D02 TW98.

Tel: (01) 888 3275, or 888 3289, or 888 3298
Email: wildlifelicence@ahg.gov.ie

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 30th April 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.

Bailey, Noel
Berns, Philip
Blaney, Nigel
Dolan, Charles
Dolan, Conor
Dunphy, John
Elliott, Andrew
Farrell, Dean
Fegan, William
Ferguson, Paul,
Fitzsimons, Adrian
Fox, Patrick
Hannon, Gerard
Hick, Ed
Hochstetler, Wendell
Hossein-Pour, Abdolreza
Jones, Paul
Kennedy, Charles
Kennedy, James
Maher, Eddie
Maxon, Nigel
Maxon, Peter
McCarthy, James
McCullough, Ray
McGuinness, Declan
Mogaldea, Vladimir
Moloney, Enda
Motherway, Neil
Murphy, Padraig
Neilan, Shane
O’Byrne, Donagh
O’Toole, Paul
Pedreschi, Daniel
Phelan, John
Pop-Buia, Petrica
Redmond, Noel
Rossiter, John
Scallan, Richard
Slattery, Ray
Teelan, Martin

Outstanding Red Stag from Co. Mayo, 22 points, 221.62 ITC Merit Points.
Photo thanks to Irish Trophy Commission.

The following candidates (HCAP numbers, followed by mark achieved) were successful in the HCAP MCQ held in Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny, on Saturday 16th April 2016 and are eligible to participate in the HCAP Range Test to be held at the Midlands Range on Saturday 30th April 2016. Procedures for Range Tests will be posted separately, or look for the previous post under the same heading.

2016/0021, 98% PASS
2016/0046, 88% PASS
2016/0045, 96% PASS
2016/0023, 94% PASS
2016/0001, 92% PASS
2016/0041, 98% PASS
2016/0050, 82% PASS
2016/0031, 88% PASS
2016/0048, 88% PASS
2016/0044, 90% PASS
2016/0043, 88% PASS
2016/0047, 86% PASS

The following candidates (HCAP numbers, followed by mark achieved) were unsuccessful and are 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.

2016/0020, 76% FAIL
2016/0042, 70% FAIL
2016/0040, 74% FAIL
2016/0039, 72% FAIL
2007/0049, 68% FAIL

The HCAP MCQ scheduled for 4.00 p.m. on Saturday 16th April 2016 (see separate post) will be preceded by a Training Workshop running from 10.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. (same day, same venue). The Workshop carries an add-on cost of €50.00 payable on arrival and will cover all those areas of knowledge needed to achieve best possible results in the MCQ as well as providing an opportunity for discussion on related topics. It is presented by Liam Nolan, Director of the Deer Alliance HCAP programme. Intending participants should confirm their place in advance, by email to deeralliance@gmail.com or by text to 086 1927 845.

An exciting new website, Wildlife Crime Ireland, has emerged to facilitate the recording and reporting of crimes against wildlife in Ireland, including crimes against deer such as poaching.

Coillte Teoranta (State Forestry Board) have opened the 2016 catalogue of available licences to hunt wild deer on Coillte lands.

The catalogue can be accessed at www.coillteoutdoors.ie/licencepermit/licensed-hunting/catalogue-of-available-licences/

The allocation of licences to hunt and shoot deer, game (and other quarry species) is
undertaken by means of open public tender. Tender bids are invited for licensed areas as
they become available, these bids are evaluated based on a “Points Scoring System”
whereby cognisance is made of the annual fee offered, the applicant’s previous
experience, their commitment to safety as well as environmental and other local interest
considerations.

It is a requirement of all persons wishing to hunt deer on Coillte lands to have successfully
completed an approved certified competence assessment, and tender bids will only be
accepted from persons who hold the Hunter Competence Assessment Programme
(HCAP) qualification.

Coillte have produced codes of practice which establish minimum standards expected of
all persons engaged in these activities alongside compliance with national legislation and
conditions of the relevant licence agreements.

For full details relating to licensed hunting on Coillte lands, and to view documents and
procedures referred to above please view the hunting section on www.coillteoutdoors.ie.

The following candidates (HCAP numbers, followed by mark achieved) were successful in the HCAP MCQ held in Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny, on Saturday 5th March 2016 and are eligible to participate in the HCAP Range Test to be held at the Midlands Range on Saturday 30th April 2016.

2016/0022, 80%
2016/0028, 98%
2016/0025, 94%
2016/0014, 94%
2016/0015, 94%
2016/0029, 94%
2016/0004, 92%
2016/0027, 96%
2016/0003, 92%
2016/0018, 94%
2016/0035, 98%
2016/0030, 92%
2016/0002, 94%
2016/0017, 92%
2016/0037, 86%
2016/0011, 88%
2016/0007, 92%
2016/0012, 92%
2016/0034, 80%
2016/0009, 94%
2016/0024, 88%
2016/0016, 90%
2016/0036, 96%
2016/0033, 80%
2016/0032, 100%

The following candidates (HCAP numbers, followed by mark achieved) were unsuccessful and are 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.

2016/0020, 76%
2016/0026, 72%
2016/0031, 66%

The following is the Google Maps reference 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

The Deer Alliance, originators and administrators of the Hunter Competence Assessment Programme (HCAP) since inception in 2005, will hold its first Advanced Marksmanship Course at the Midland National Shooting Grounds, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly on Saturday 28th May 2016. The Advanced Marksmanship Course is open to HCAP-Certified candidates only and is comprised of a three-position fifteen-round course of fire over 100 metres, supported by lectures & demonstrations in the safe use, handling, care & storage of firearms, including practical demonstrations of zeroing the rifle. Successful candidates will receive a Certificate of Special Competence in Marksmanship. The new course will be offered on a limited pilot basis only in 2016 and entry will be restricted to the first thirty applications received. Cost of participation for the one-day course is €100.00. Application and payment can be made online through the Online Applications section of the Deer Alliance website. An Application Form can also be downloaded from the website for submission by post.

The target used will be the standard HCAP Deer Target, with all fifteen rounds to be placed accurately inside the Heart & Lung killing zone on the target. Five rounds of deer-legal ammunition (not supplied) will be fired in each of the three positions – prone, kneeling/sitting and standing, all shots rested. All legitimate stalking aids can be used e.g. bipods, tripods and stalking sticks.
The Advanced Marksmanship Course is designed to test the shooting skill of the experienced hunter and will mark successful candidates out as possessing exceptional skill in marksmanship for the purpose of safe and efficient and humane control or wild deer.

The closing date for applications is Friday 6th May 2016.