The next event in the 2024 Series of Deer Alliance HCAP Training Workshops & MCQs will be held on Saturday 11th May 2024 (10am – 5pm), followed on Saturday 18th May 2024 by the supporting Range Test for successful MCQ Candidates. The venue for the Workshop & MCQ is the Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Kilkenny Road, Carlow, Co. Carlow, R93 N207. The Range Test will be held at the Midland Range, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, R35 NC58.
(The next scheduled dates after 11th/18th May 2024 will be 29th June/6th July 2024, details to be posted here after 13th May 2024, venues unchanged. Application can be made now).
APPLICATION
Application can be made online through the Online Applications section of the website or in hard copy by post. Online payment is through PayPal using any valid debit or credit card (applicants do not need their own PayPal account) or by post with cheque or postal order. Hard copy application forms can be downloaded from the website.
The cost of HCAP remains unchanged at €165.00, and €35.00 for the Deer Alliance Stalker Training Manual (also purchased through the Online Applications section).
DISCOUNT FOR MEMBERS OF IFA COUNTRYSIDE
Members of IFA Countryside can avail of an inclusive special discount price of €120.00 (covering HCAP Application, Stalker Training Manual, Workshop, MCQ, Range Test and certification), generously subsidised by IFA Farm Business Skillnet. New and intending members of IFA Countryside should call 0818 924 982 or 01 426 0368 for membership information, which includes insurance cover for all hunting and other countryside activities, compliant with requirements for the HCAP Range Test.
SIKA THE WILD DEER
In addition, thanks to a special sponsorship deal offered exclusively to Deer Alliance HCAP, the first 100 HCAP Candidates in 2024 will receive a complimentary copy of Sika the Wild Deer (retail value €25.00), the story of the life of a sika stag in Wicklow from conception to maturity, seen through the eyes of a stalker.
FIREARMS FOR RANGE TEST
HCAP Candidates who do not have access to their own deer-legal rifle have two options open to them. If they have a friend who has a deer-legal rifle and is prepared to let the candidate use that rifle for the Range Test, that is permitted, provided that the friend holds a valid Firearm Certificate for the firearm in question, holds valid shooting insurance and is present with the Candidate on the Range at all times. Alternatively, the candidate can avail of a Club Rifle in calibre .243, available from the Midland Range. Booking must be made at least two weeks in advance and is subject to Garda vetting. The current cost of rifle hire is €60.00, to include ammunition sufficient for the standard Range Test. Candidates with no previous experience of full-bore rifle shooting may be required to undertake basic tuition and competency testing on a one-to-one basis at the Midland Range (to include the Range Test Course of Fire but not as part of the Range Test), the current cost of which is €150.00 (one person, one day tuition and test preparation). Hire of a Club rifle and/or arrangements for tuition and test preparation, including all costs, are entirely a matter between Midland Range management and personnel, are outside the ordinary HCAP process and Deer Alliance HCAP has no responsibility or obligation in this regard. For further information about use of a Club firearm for the HCAP Range Test, contact John Paul Craven (Range Operator), 086 823 2641 or Tony Saunders, 087 097 7589.
ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES FOR TRAINING WORKSHOP & MCQ, SATURDAY 11th MAY 2024
The Candidates listed below are eligible to participate in the Training Workshop & MCQ being held on Saturday 11th May 2024. This list includes Candidates carried forward from earlier dates due to Deferrals or No-shows but remaining eligible. The list will be updated as applications are received (last update 25.4.2024).
COLE, Matthew, 2024/0077
CORCORAN, Gerard, 2024/0068
CULLEN, Tom, 2024/0018
DOYLE, Alan, 2024/0062
ENNIS, Alan, 2024/0061
FITZGERALD, Ollie, 2024/0056
FOLEY, John, 2024/0058
FOXTON, Jordan, 2024/006
FLYNN, Declan, 2022/0113
GARIB, Sayf, 2024/0028
GLENDON, Philip, 2024/0074
GLYNN, Alan, 2024/0014
GOLDEN, Jonathan, 2024/0057
GRANT, Diarmuid, 2024/0079
HYLAND, Enda, 2017/0181
HYLAND, Norman, 2024/0059
KANE, Patrick, 2023/0091
KELLY, Robert, 2023/0087
KIRWAN, Edward, 2024/0019
KIRWAN (Jnr.), Edward, 2024/0020
KIRWAN, Jason, 2024/0021
KIRWAN, John, 2024/0022
LAWLOR, John, 2024/0072
MacSWEENEY, Ronan, 2024/0050
McCULLOUGH, Ashley, 2024/0051
McENROY, Niall, 2024/0049
McGRATH, Anthony, 2024/0045
McLOUGHLIN, Eamonn, 2024/0065
McMORROW, Oonagh, 2024/0012
MOLDOVAN, Andrei, 2024/0048
MOLDOVAN, Imiha, 2024/0060
MULDOON, Seán, 2024/0075
NIBLOCK, David, 2024/0063
O’CONNOR, Niall, 2024/0078
O’LEARY, Noel, 2024/0064
Ó MEARÁIN, Lochlann, 2024/0066
O’NEILL, Michael, 2024/0041
O’REILLY, Patrick, 2024/0070
O’SHEA, John, 2024/0052
STARODUBTSEV, Eugene, 2024/0047
TREACY, Grainne, 2024/0046
PEARSON, Michael, 2024/0076
POTTS, Christopher, 2024/0071
RONAN, Darren, 2024/0015
SAHOVS, Andrejs, 2024/0053
SZOKE, Tamas, 2024/0073
TICE, George, 2023/0130
WHELAN, Chris, 2024/0011
WHITE, Ronnie, 2024/0067
WILLIS, Elliot, 2024/0054
WILLIS, Rodica, 2024/0055
MANDATORY CERTIFICATION
Certification has been mandatory for all first-time applicants for a Deer Hunting Licence since 2022 and has been obligatory for all persons hunting on Coillte forest property since 2005. In addition, the recent Irish Deer Management Strategy Group report published in December 2023, recommends phased certification for all hunters over the next 3 to 5 years (including licensed hunters not hunting on Coillte forest property and/or holding a Deer Hunting Licence prior to 2022).
ABOUT HCAP
HCAP is the only training programme in Ireland developed in partnership with Coillte Teoranta, National Parks & Wildlife Service, Forest Service, An Garda Síochána and all principal deer organisations. HCAP completed its twentieth year of operation in 2023 and to date approximately 3700 licensed deer hunters have participated in the programme. Enquiries by email to deeralliance@gmail.com or by ‘phone to 086 1927 845 (office hours).
