The next HCAP Range Test (the last in the 2018 Series) will take place on SATURDAY 4th AUGUST 2018 (confirmed date). See previous posts for list of eligible candidates and other details.

Figures recently made available by the National Parks & Wildlife Service show massive increases in both the number of licenced deer hunters, and in the number of wild deer shot nationally.

A total of 5249 Deer Hunting Licences were issued for the Season 2017-2018. This compares with approximately 4600 in the previous year.

According to hunters’ bag returns, a total of 37241 wild deer (three species) were shot in 2016-2017.

The following Candidates (23 total) are deemed to be HCAP-Certified following successful completion of their HCAP Assessment after the Range Test held on 14th July 2018 (names, followed by HCAP Number).

Date of Certification: 14th July 2018.

Begley, Kevin, 2018/0094
Burke, Liam, 2018/0112
Condon, Pa, 2018/0115
Cullen, James, 2018/0095
Daly, Steven, 2018/0070
Duggan, Jamie, 2018/0057
Earle, Edward, 2018/0097
Flynn, David, 2018/0053
Galvin, Emmet, 2018/0005
Hanna, John, 2018/0105
Hanna, Robert, 2018/0106
Hourigan, Gerard, 2017/0187
Keyes, Paul, 2018/0090
Kinsella, Jason, 2018/0098
Lambert John, 2018/0110
McNally, Garrett, 2018/0102
McNally, Shane, 2018/0101
Mongey, Eamon, 2018/0096
Mullen, Philip, 2017/0180
O’Reilly, Wesley, 2018/0073
Smith, Daragh, 2018/0108
Whelan, Ronnie, 2018/0068
Wychowalek, Radoslaw, 2018/0103

All Candidates in attendance were successful 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 very professional management of the Test on the Range.

There were 13 qualified Deferrals/No-Shows, who will have their opportunity of completing the Range Test stage of HCAP on SATURDAY 4th AUGUST 2018 (confirmed date).

DEFERRALS/NO-SHOWS

Burke, Conor, 2018/0113
Brown, Martin, 2017/0116
Butler, Brian, 2018/0114
Butler, Rupert, 2018/0086
Corcoran, David, 2017/0166
Dunne, Philip, 2018/0099
Ivanoff, Eftim, 2018/0050
McCann, Jim, 2017/0098
Monaghan, Jason, 2018/0020
Ó Conchubhair, Nick, 2018/0109
O’Keeffe, Danny, 2018/0012
Shanahan, Maurice, 2018/0058
Spencer-Jones, Luke, 2017/0024

All Deferrals/No-Shows should note that where two successive Range Tests are missed without notification and reasonable excuse for absence, such Candidates may only complete the HCAP process by re-entering the Range Test stage as Repeat Candidates, subject to €50.00 Repeat Fee.

The next and final HCAP MCQ in the 2018 Summer Series (the last in the 2018 Series) will be held on Saturday 21st July 2018 at 3.30 p.m. in the Ionad Dara Centre, Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny. The supporting Range Test will be held at the Midland Range, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co.Offaly on SATURDAY 4th AUGUST 2018 (confirmed date).

The following Candidates are eligible to participate in the MCQ on 21st July:

Adamus, Lukasz
Barry, James
Brennan, Gary
Breslin, Charles
Cherek, Marcin
Dallaghan, Maurice
Delaney, Liam
Edge, Robert
Fenton, Roland
Flaherty, James
Forde, Desmond
Hegarty, Michael
Hyland, Enda
Joyce, James
Kecskes, Zoltan
Lambert, Kevin
Lane, Michael
Leskovics, Aldis
McManus, Rory
Murphy, Robert
O’Hanlon, Chris
Quinlan, Ken
Tice, Patrick
Whelan, John

This list will be updated with accordance with applications received after first posting.

Deer Alliance HCAP Assessments are not normally run during the Open Season September – February so this will be the last opportunity for intending HCAP Candidates to participate in 2018.

OPTIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOP

An optional Training Workshop will also be held at the same venue as the MCQ on Saturday 21st July 2018, running from 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. The add-on cost of the Workshop is €50.00, payable on registration on the day. Candidates wishing to attend the Workshop should notify their intention by email to deeralliance@gmail.com or by text to 086 1927 845.

(IFA Countryside Candidates listed above [HCAP Nos. 2018/0080, 2018/0082 and 2018/0111 above] are already enrolled for the Workshop, with subscription pre-paid).

The Range Test for HCAP Candidates having successfully completed their MCQ on 30th June 2018 will take place on Saturday 14th July 2018 at the Midland National Shooting Ground, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, commencing at 10.00 a.m. sharp. 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 (minimum twenty shooters in each detail). Procedures to be followed at each Range Test are posted separately.

This list includes some Candidates who previously deferred or were No-Shows at earlier Range Tests in 2018 but who remain eligible to participate on 14th July 2018.

ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES

Begley, Kevin, 2018/0094
Burke, Conor, 2018/0113
Brown, Martin, 2017/0116
Burke, Liam, 2018/0112
Butler, Brian, 2018/0114
Butler, Rupert, 2018/0086
Condon, Pa, 2018/0115
Corcoran, David, 2017/0166
Cullen, James, 2018/0095
Daly, Steven, 2018/0070
Duggan, Jamie, 2018/0057
Dunne, Philip, 2018/0099
Earl, Edward, 2018/0097
Flynn, David, 2018/0053
Galvin, Emmet, 2018/0005
Hanna, John, 2018/0105
Hanna, Robert, 2018/0106
Hourigan, Gerard, 2017/0187
Ivanoff, Eftim, 2018/0050
O’Keeffe, Danny, 2018/0012
Keyes, Paul, 2018/0090
Kinsella, Jason, 2018/0098
Lambert John, 2018/0110
McCann, Jim, 2017/0098
McNally, Garrett, 2018/0102
McNally, Shane, 2018/0101
Monaghan, Jason, 2018/0020
Mongey, Eamon, 2018/0096
Mullen, Philip, 2017/0180
Ó Conchubhair, Nick, 2018/0109
O’Reilly, Wesley, 2018/0073
Shanahan, Maurice, 2018/0058
Smith, Daragh, 2018/0108
Spencer-Jones, Luke, 2017/0024
Whelan, Ronnie, 2018/0068
Wychowalek, Radoslaw, 2018/0103

The following Candidates remain eligible for the next scheduled HCAP MCQ taking place in July 2018, being Deferrals or No-Shows at the MCQ which took place on Saturday 30th June 2018.

The date of the next MCQ will be posted here as soon as confirmed (most likely date Saturday 21st July 2018 at 3.30 p.m.)

Adamus, Lukasz, 2018/0100
Breslin, Charles, 2018/0075
Dallaghan, Maurice, 2018/0069
Delaney, Liam, 2017/0175
Edge, Robert, 2018/0104
Fenton, Roland, 2018/0107
Flaherty, James, 2018/0051
Forde, Desmond, 2017/0177
Hegarty, Michael, 2017/0186
Hyland, Enda, 2017/0181
Joyce, James, 2017/0183
Lambert, Kevin, 2018/0111
Lane, Michael, 2017/0081
McManus, Rory, 2017/0184
O’Hanlon, Chris, 2017/191
Quinlan, Ken, 2018/0082
Tice, Patrick, 2018/0007
Whelan, John, 2018/0080

The following candidates (HCAP numbers, followed by mark achieved) were successful in the HCAP MCQ held in Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny, on Saturday 30th June 2018 and are eligible to participate in the HCAP Range Test to be held at the Midlands Range on Saturday 14th July 2018. Procedures for Range Tests will be posted here separately in due course.

In addition, Candidates who were Deferrals or No-Shows at the Range Test held on Saturday 26th May 2018 will be eligible to participate on 14th July 2018 and will be added to the list of names when posted here.

Candidates who were Deferrals or No-Shows at this MCQ on 30th June 2018 will be carried forward to the next scheduled MCQ, except where they have missed two or more MCQs without notice (date to be announced).

2018/0114, 92%, P
2018/0115, 88%, P
2018/0097, 90%, P
2018/0105, 88%, P
2018/0094, 92%, P
2018/0113, 98%, P
2018/0112, 100%, P
2018/0106, 94%, P
2018/0098, 86%, P
2018/0110, 96%, P
2018/0102, 92%, P
2018/0101, 98%, P
2018/0096, 96%, P
2017/0180, 100%, P
2018/0109, 86%, P
2018/0108, 98%, P
2018/0068, 80%, P
2018/0103, 98%, P
2018/0095, 96%, P
2018/0070, 94%, P
2018/0099, 88%, P

On this occasion all participating candidates passed the MCQ.

Note: One Candidate recorded an incorrect HCAP Number on his MCQ paper. That Candidate’s correct number and MCQ Result are given above. In case of query the Candidate in question should contact the Director of HCAP on 086 1927 845.

Fallow buck in velvet (click to enlarge)

Information recently made available by National Parks & Wildlife Service (Wildlife Licensing Unit) shows that the number of Deer Hunting Licences issued for the Season 2017/2018 rose to 5150, an increase of 220 on the previous season high of 4930.

The closing date for the HCAP MCQ taking place on Saturday 30th June 2018 is Monday 25th June 2018. Applications received after that date cannot be processed but will be listed for the next scheduled MCQ date after 30th June.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have issued a notification to the effect that the tender for the provision of deer management services in Co. Wicklow has been won by Wicklow Uplands Council, whose bid is described by DAFM as the most economically advantageous tender.

In line with public procurement legislation, DAFM will not conclude a contract with Wicklow Uplands Council until on or after midnight on 16th June 2018. This standstill notice is issued as required by the Remedies Directive (2007/66/EC) and the implementing Irish Regulations (SI 130 of 2010 and S.I 192 of 2015).

Wicklow Uplands Council is a private company limited by guarantee, having twenty-seven directors elected annually and acting as an independent voluntary organisation representing over fifty diverse member groups and individuals in the Wicklow Uplands, arranged over four panels reflecting different areas of interest. There is a ten-person Executive Committee, including four designated Officers.

Wicklow Uplands Council is a registered lobbying group, registered under the provisions of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015.

The provision of deer management services appears to be a new departure for Wicklow Uplands Council.

For information on the Request for Tenders (RFT) issued by DAFM, see archived postings on this blog for February 2018.

Follow link for information on Wicklow Uplands Council