MANDATORY CERTIFICATION – RESPONSE TO QUERIES

There has been much discussion, speculation and misinformation on the subject of mandatory certification for deer hunters as a prerequisite for the Deer Hunting Licence (DHL) since its introduction was formally announced here and elsewhere last month. It is appropriate that Deer Alliance HCAP addresses the issues raised, and set the record straight where concerns have been expressed.

1: Deer Alliance HCAP is a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation in existence since 2003 and running the Hunter Competence Assessment programme (HCAP) since 2005. The Deer Alliance came together as a response to the requirement on the part of Coillte Teoranta for minimum competency requirements for all persons hunting wild deer on Coillte forest property, in compliance with forest certification and health and safety requirements, as well as public safety issues. Initial funding for the project came in the form of grants received from Coillte, NPWS, Forest Service, Irish Deer Society, Wild Deer Association of Ireland, Wicklow Deer Management & Conservation Group and the Wicklow Deer Society.

2: Deer Alliance originally comprised a number of stakeholders drawn together in 2001 to formulate an appropriate certification process. These stakeholders included the Irish Deer Society, Wild Deer Association of Ireland, Wicklow Deer Management & Conservation Group, Wicklow Deer Society, Coillte, National Parks & Wildlife Service, Forest Service, Garda Siochana, Irish Farmers’ Association, Irish Timber Growers’ Association and a representative of commercial stalking interests. The Deer Alliance HCAP Committee has been chaired by a representative of NPWS since 2005 and prior to that, by the Managing Director, Forestry, Coillte Teo. A Coillte representative served as Treasurer of the Committee from 2005 to 2017 and that role is now filled by a representative of the Irish Deer Society. Liam M. Nolan has served as Secretary/Administrator of HCAP since inception in 2001 and continues in that capacity.

3: It has been the policy of all the deer organisations concerned for several decades that training and certification of competency should be a prerequisite for the issue of the Deer Hunting Licence (DHL). This policy was adopted by Deer Alliance HCAP (including all stakeholders) in 2005 and Deer Alliance has worked towards this end since HCAP was launched in 2005, since which certification (HCAP) has been a mandatory requirement for hunters on Coillte forest property. While only approximately 1300 licensed deer hunters hunt on Coillte forest property (and must have HCAP before they can tender for or hunt on Coillte forest property), almost twice that number have been processed by Deer Alliance HCAP since 2005. The success of HCAP speaks for itself, and is now seen as a badge of honour and achievement by those who hold it.

4: In March 2015 the Irish Deer Management Forum came into being, after a much-publicised and long-drawn-out process of public consultation. Membership of the Forum comprises nineteen stakeholder representatives under an independent Chair, charged with formulation of recommendations dealing with overall management of wild deer in Ireland. Membership of the Forum is by Ministerial invitation and appointment. Full details of the Forum, including membership information, can be seen at www.idmf.ie and/or www.deerforum.ie.

5: In December 2015, after exhaustive debate, the Forum unanimously adopted the following recommendation for submission to the appointing Ministers: “That the IDMF recommend to the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine that 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, be 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”.

This recommendation was duly submitted to the Ministers concerned and confirmation of adoption of the recommendation was subsequently received by the Forum.

6: There can be no lack of awareness of impending introduction of mandatory certification amongst the main body of licensed deer hunters as there has been constant and recurring discussion amongst the representative organisations for several years and indeed, was a recurring point in submissions made during the public consultation process leading to the establishment of the Irish Deer Management Forum. Certification was also identified in the key document, “Deer Management in Ireland: A Framework for Action”, which can be accessed through the IDMF website.

7: Deer Alliance HCAP has now put in place a structure to handle the expected future take-up of HCAP certification. Given that approximately half of the 4900 holders of the DHL require to be certified (the balance being already processed since 2005) and given an average of 600 new entrants to stalking under licence over each of the last three years, taken together with an average 200 retirements or failure to renew the DHL over the same period, this means that approximately 1000-1200 candidates will require to be processed over each of the next five years. With the systems and supports already in place, and refined over a twelve-year period, Deer Alliance HCAP is confident that it can meet this demand in an efficient and competent fashion.

8: The cost of HCAP was set at €150.00 per candidate, from MCQ written examination through to Range Test and issue of HCAP Certificate (now supported by ID card and lapel badge) in 2012 and will continue at that level despite constantly increasing costs. As already stated, HCAP is operated on a strictly not-for-profit basis and any and all surpluses are applied to containment of the cost to the individual candidate, and to improvements in HCAP and its administration. The Secretary/Administrator receives an honorarium, which is subject to income tax and VAT, compliant with Revenue requirements. That honorarium is calculated to cover the Secretary/Administrator’s time and direct expenses. Other expenses include MCQ facilities, venue hire, Range Test costs (including per-candidate payment to the Range, and per diem and travel costs for Deer Alliance Range personnel), and all those direct and indirect costs associated with running HCAP, such as maintenance of website, internet server provider charges, An Post charges, communications costs including mobile phone charges and travel costs. A full statement of Account is provided to stakeholder representatives at each Committee meeting (usually held quarterly) and audited accounts are provided annually. In short, full transparency and accountability is followed at all times, and this will continue to be the policy.

9: Regarding accreditation, HCAP is accredited by those entities from whom accreditation is required, namely National Parks & Wildlife Service and Coillte Teoranta. HCAP is also accredited by An Garda Siochana as evidence of competence for purposes of firearms certificate applications. HCAP is not a national vocational qualification as the cost of complying with requirements of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the over-arching body for accreditation of vocational courses in Ireland, is disproportionate to the number of candidates seeking certification, and would lead to a measurably increased cost of certification for candidates. There is currently no accredited national vocational course available in Ireland for purposes for certification in competence in the field of deer management or deer hunting. Neither is any external course in this arena is accredited.

10: In fairness to Deer Alliance HCAP and NPWS, the stated position calls for certification under HCAP “or equivalent”. There is currently no equivalent course available. It is expected that if any alternative certification programme is put forward, NPWS, as the authority responsible for issuing of DHLs, will determine whether equivalence is met by any intending alternative course leading to certification. By virtue of its structure and achievements over a twelve to sixteen-year period, HCAP is established as the benchmark for equivalence and it is difficult to see how or why an alternative course provider would come forward, other than for purely commercial reasons.

11: Deer Alliance is aware of a negative response to mandatory certification emerging on social media from some quarters. Deer Alliance, and all of its stakeholders as well as stakeholders represented on the Irish Deer Management Forum, regret to note any negative response to developments which are designed to lead to better, competent and more efficient hunting and management if wild deer by committed and fully certified persons. Happily, the number and quality of favourable comment considerably outweighs the negative comment. Mandatory certification has in fact been welcomed by a majority of respondents, who see the development as bringing Ireland into line with international best practice and contributing to best-practice procedures in terms of management of wild deer, including recreational hunting and necessary culling for control purposes. Opponents of mandatory certification mention increased regulation and control as negative factors whereas the purpose is to improve and enhance best-practice procedures based on education and training. Others feel that the cost of certification is an obstacle to new entrants. Given the overall cost of stalking as a recreational resource, the cost of certification is insignificant and will add considerably to the hunter’s knowledge and performance in the field.

12: Deer Alliance is also aware of an online petition in circulation, which is regrettable, as division is always counter-productive. The petition in question appears to be based on a fear of regulation deterring newcomers to the sport, where sport is the objective. There is no evidence to support this proposition, as analysis of DHL numbers over the last number of years will demonstrate. Legitimate hunters will have no difficulty in meeting requirements, regulatory or otherwise. A licence fee is also mentioned. Certification has nothing to do with any licence fee which may or may not be contemplated, but it will serve to educate and support genuine hunters while deterring others less committed to deer hunting, either as a sport or as a necessary tool of management and control under safe, competent and knowledgeable conditions.

13: A need for legislation has also been mentioned. There is no need for legislation to support the introduction of mandatory certification. Section 9 of the Wildlife Act 1976 (as amended) provides that the Minister may attach conditions to any licence granted by him for any of the purposes of the Act or of regulations made under the Act, vary such conditions and revoke any such licence (other than a licence granted by the Minister under section 29 of the Act).

Applications for HCAP are now invited from interested persons.

MANDATORY CERTIFICATION FOR ALL DEER HUNTERS FROM 1st JANUARY 2018

ARE YOU HCAP-CERTIFIED YET?

With effect from 1st January 2018, all first-time applicants for a Deer Hunting Licence (DHL) in the Republic of Ireland will be required to be certified as competent in knowledge of deer, including aspects such as hunting regulations and the law, under the provisions of the Deer Alliance Hunter Competence Assessment Programme (HCAP) or equivalent, before being issued with a DHL.

This applies whether their application is based on State forestry or on private land.

All hunters already holding a DHL as at 31st December 2017 will have a period of grace extending for five years to 31st December 2022 to become certified but from that date they too will require to be certified as competent.

HCAP was introduced in 2005 as a requirement for hunters on Coillte forest property but will now extend to private land. This follows a recommendation to government from the Irish Deer Management Forum, and some forty years of lobbying for mandatory testing and certification by the different deer organisations in Ireland. The Deer Alliance Hunter Competence Assessment Programme is the only approved certification process in Ireland, covering the legislative and regulatory framework for deer hunting in Ireland.

There are currently approximately 4900 holders of the DHL in Ireland, of whom approximately half are already HCAP-Certified. Over the last three years, there have been approximately 600 new entrants to deer stalking each year, with only 200 retirements each year.

In anticipation of a significant increase in applications in 2018, Deer Alliance will run a series of twelve Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) written assessments in 2018, supported by six Range Tests. The full schedule will shortly be available on this News & Updates section of the Deer Alliance website. All applications will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis. All intending applicants are urged to apply in a timely fashion, and existing holders of the DHL in particular are urged not to leave it until the end of the five-year grace period to make application as they are unlikely to be facilitated in time to make the deadline. Application and payment can be made online through the Deer Alliance website. The cost of HCAP remains €150.00, to include written assessment (MCQ) and Range Test.

 

INCREASE IN NUMBER OF DEER HUNTING LICENCES

Figures recently released by the National Parks & Wildlife Service show that the number of Deer Hunting Licences (DHLs) granted annually has increased from 4422 in 2014/15 to 4900 to date in the current season, 2017/18, with an average of 600 first-time applicants over each of the last four years. At the same time, an average of 400 existing licence-holders failed to renew their licence in each successive year.

These figures suggest an annual nett increase each in the order of 8% in the number of DHLs issued. An incremental rise of 8% per annum could lead to the total number of licences issued annually increase to over 7200 over the next five years. It remains to be seen whether this growth pattern will be maintained, more importantly, whether the deer population can survive such added and continually increasing shooting pressure.

Mandatory Certification (HCAP or equivalent) will be introduced with effect from 1st January 2018. From that date all first-time applicants for the DHL will be required to be HCAP-Certified before grant of licence. Existing holders of the DHL (holding a DHL on or before 31st December 2017) will have a grace period of five years ending on 31st December 2022 during which to become HCAP-Certified.

Deer Alliance HCAP will shortly announce a schedule of MCQ and Range Test dates for 2018. This will be available here on this News & Updates Section of the Deer Alliance website. Application for HCAP can be made online through the website at any time.

SECTION 42 DEER CULL, MARCH TO AUGUST 2017.

Figures made available by the Wildlife Licencing Unit of the National Parks & Wildlife Service show that 482 Section 42 licences were granted for culling of wild deer during the Closed Season, March to August 2017, with 786 deer culled. No Section 23 licences were granted during this period.

Licences to hunt deer for control purposes during the Closed Season (March to end of August each year), where agricultural or silvicultural damage is evidenced, are granted under section 42 of the Wildlife Act 1976 (as amended). Applicants for a section 42 licence must be the owner or occupier of the land on which damage is claimed, who may then nominate a person to exercise the licence. Section 23 (6) of the Act provides for the grant of a licence to hunt deer to capture or humanely kill, or capture and humanely kill at any time deer for an educational, scientific or other purpose specified in the licence. The hours during which deer may be hunted on private land under a licence issued under section 29 (1) of the Act are from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset. Hunting during night hours using a lamp is permitted only under special licence, in this case a section 42 licence with conditional use of a lamp (use of a lamp is permitted only where the person exercising the licence is HCAP-Certified).

390 Section 42 licences to be exercised during daylight hours were issued.

92 Section 42 licences permitting use of a lamp (night shooting) were issued.

546 male deer were culled (16 red deer, 303 fallow deer, 223 sika deer, 4 hybrid deer)

240 female deer were culled (1 red hind, 20 fallow does, 218 sika hinds).

The imbalance between male and female deer across the three species is significant, as it is only by focussing on females that numbers can be controlled. The imbalance was less pronounced in the case of sika deer, where almost equal numbers were culled. The breakdown by county is not available at time of writing.

As applications for section 42 licences are made in the first instance by the owner or occupier of the land affected, who then nominates a licensed hunter to exercise the licence if not carrying out the shooting himself, the figures suggest that 482 parcels of farmland or forestry were involved, with a return of only 1.63 (one point six three) deer per licence.

The 2017 Open Season for male deer commenced on 1st September and runs to 31st December.

The 2017/2018 Open Season for female and antlerless deer will commence on 1st November, running to 28th February 2018.

 

END OF 2017 ASSESSMENTS, NEXT ROUND OF ASSESSMENTS 2018

TRIO OF SIKA STAGS. CLICK TO ENLARGE

As previously headlined on this News & Updates section of the Deer Alliance website, the HCAP assessment which concluded with the Range Test held on Saturday 29th July 2017 marked the fourth and final assessment of the 2017 round of events. As a voluntary not-for-profit body relying on volunteers to give assistance in assessments, particularly with Range Tests, the Deer Alliance does not run assessments during the hunting season, September to February each year, when persons usually providing assistance are otherwise engaged in their own cull and deer management programmes.

Details of the 2018 schedule of dates will be posted here early in the New Year, starting with the first HCAP MCQ of the season in March 2018.

Candidates remaining eligible for HCAP by reason of not having attended MCQs or Range Tests in 2017 but with valid applications, will be able to complete their HCAP certification process in 2018. Candidates having applied before 2017 but who did not participate in 2016 or 2017 will now be de-listed as eligible and if such candidates wish to re-enter the process they will be required to pay a €50.00 Repeat Fee. Applications on hand (recently received but too late to participate in any MCQ in2017) will be held on file and honoured in 2018. Intending candidates can continue to make application between date of posting of this notice, and notice of the next scheduled MCQ.

Candidates are reminded that it is intended that HCAP certification will be mandatory for all new Deer Hunting Licence (DHL) applicants with effect from 1st January 2018. HCAP certification will also be mandatory from the same date for existing holders of the DHL but who hunt on private land hunting on private land, but such persons will have a period of grace from three to five years in which to achieve HCAP certification.

HCAP certification has been mandatory for persons hunting wild deer on Coillte forest property since 2005.

HCAP ID CARDS AND BADGES

HCAP-Certified Hunters are now eligible to receive free of charge a “Deer Alliance HCAP Certified Hunter” wallet-sized ID Cards bearing their name and HCAP number, together with a top-quality enamel Deer Alliance HCAP lapel or hat badge with three-dimensional stag’s head in gold. Candidates will continue to receive a HCAP Certificate complete with candidate name, number and date of certification, suitable for framing.

Certificates, ID Cards and Badges are now issued on the day of qualifying at each Range Test.

Existing HCAP-Certified candidates can receive their ID Card and Badge by sending a €1.00 stamped self-addressed business envelope (SAE) to Deer Alliance, PO Box 1, Borris, Co. Carlow.

RESULTS OF HCAP RANGE TEST, SATURDAY 29th JULY 2017

 

The following Candidates (73 in number) are deemed to be HCAP-Certified following successful completion of the Range Test stage of the HCAP process held on 29th July 2017.

Date of Certification: 29th July 2017.

Allard, John, 2017/0096
Barry, John, 2017/0076
Bonner, Tarlach, 2017/0142
Brady, Derek, 2017/0133
Breen, Gavin, 2017/0115
Burke, Philip Jonathan, 2017/0155
Carroll, Chris, 2017/0151
Carrig, Michael, 2017/0105
Casey, Tomas, 2017/0108
Coady, William, 2017/0136
Connolly, Bernard, 2017/0060
Cooney, Desmond, 2017/0100
Conroy, Fergal, 2017/0135
Corcoran, Eugene, 2017/0167
Corcoran, Paul, 2017/0127
Cullen, Niall, 2017/0107
Divito, Ercole, 2017/0003
Donnelly, Hugh, 2017/0150
Dunne, Fintan, 2017/0120
Fahey, David, 2017/0112
Fahy, Ronan, 2017/0130
Forster, Karl, 2017/0125
Fox, Liam, 2017/0010
Galvin, David, 2017/0158
Gregory, Peter, 2017/0143
Harmon, Hugh, 2017/0129
Harman, Mark, 2017/0172
Harmon, William, 2017/0170
Hartigan Mark, 2017/0156
Hoctor, Niall, 2017/0134
Hughes, Timothy, 2017/0055
Jackson, Aindriu, 2017/0114
Janczak, Tomasz, 2017/0153
Johnston, James, 2017/0097
Kelly, Matthew, 2017/0113
Keogh, Patrick, 2017/0171
Kerry, Wayne, 2017/0101
Kirwan, Alan, 2016/0079
McCarthy, Frank, 2017/169
McEnroy, Connor, 2017/0037
McLoughlin, Liam, 2017/0148
Mulvany, Oisin, 2017/0131
Murphy, P. J., 2017/0146
Nolan, Tom, 2017/0103
Nooney, Noel, 2017/0126
O’Connor, William, 2017/0102
O’Donnell, Francis, 2017/0106
Oertzen, Cassian, 2017/0132
O’Hara, Patrick, 2017/0159
O’Neill, Christopher, 2017/0161
O’Shaughnessy, William 2017/0099
O’Sullivan, Martin, 2017/0168
Palmer, Paul, 2017/0154
Payne, Desmond, 2017/0122
Raggett, Mark, 2017/0119
Redmond, Terry, 2017/0104
Rizzini, Alberto, 2007/0049
Roache, Fred, 2017/0111
Robinson, Raymond, 2017/0091
Rooney, Niall, 2017/0050
Seery, Ken, 2017/0110
Shaw, Leslie, 2017/0147
Sherlock, Edward, 2017/0152
Sherwin, Philip, 2017/0141
Shortt, Trevor, 2017/0031
Skerritt, Adam, 2017/0157
Vaughan, Noe, 2017/0144
Walsh. Glen, 2017/0145
Whelan, Barry, 2017/0128
White, Daniel, 2017/0117
Wignall, Terence, 2017/0123
Williams, Howard, 2017/0005
Wilson, David, 2017/0109

All 73 participating Candidates passed the Range Test stage of their HCAP certification process on this occasion, following successful achievement of the MCQ stage earlier in 2017. All successful Candidates were presented with their HCAP Certificates, individualised ID Cards and HCAP badges and will now be added to the Register of HCAP-Certified Candidates for purposes of validating their status as HCAP-Certified Hunters with Coillte Teoranta and National Parks & Wildlife Service.

There were 8 Notified Deferrals or No-Shows at this Range Test who will remain eligible to participate in the next scheduled Range Test in 2018 but if such candidates defer or fail to show up without notice and good cause, they will be obliged to pay a Range Test Repeat Fee of €50.00 if they wish to complete their HCAP.

The Range Test on 29th July 2017 marks the end of the 2017 Round of HCAP Assessments and brings to 152 the number of Candidates  becoming HCAP-Certified in 2017 (Deer Alliance HCAP having processed 172 Applications). The schedule of events for 2018 will be posted here when finalised, with the next HCAP MCQ taking place in March 2018.

PROCEDURES AT HCAP RANGE TESTS

  

LOCATION MAPS TO MIDLAND NATIONAL SHOOTING GROUND, 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 (Candidates using the .220 Swift must use a Winchester 60 gr. bullet to achieve the minimum legal muzzle energy and should notify their intentions beforehand).

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. NARGC, Countryside Alliance and IFA Countryside 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. In certain limited circumstances and always subject to prior notification, Candidates may use a firearm which they do not themselves own, provided that the certificate holder is present with the Candidate at all times.

6: All Candidates are therefore 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.

7: Following experimentation over a number of Range Tests, the Deer Alliance have 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 a minimum of 20 positions In certain circumstances, depending on which Range is in use, the maximum number may increase to 40.

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) 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 in the Main MRC Clubhouse before leaving the Range in order to receive the HCAP Certificate.

h) Candidates taking two or more attempts at the Range Test on any given day may be required to pay a Repeat Fee of €25.00. The Repeat Fee if taking the Range Test for a second or further attempt on any subsequent Range Test day is €50.00.

i) 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 when participating in the Programme. 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

HCAP RANGE TEST TARGET
COURSE OF FIRE: THREE SHOTS IN A FOUR-INCH GROUP, PRONE AT 100 METRES, FOLLOWD BY SIX SHOTS GROUPED IN THE HEART/LUNG AREA AT 100, 60 AND 40 METRES IN THE PRONE, SITTNG/KNEELING AND STANDING POSITIONS. STALKING STICKS AND OTHER LEGITIMATE STALKING AIDS MAY BE USED

PREPARATION FOR HCAP RANGE TEST, SATURDAY 29th JULY 2017

HCAP Candidates eligible to participate in the Range Test taking place on Saturday 29th July 2017 are reminded Deer Alliance HCAP have arranged for availability of one-on-one preparation for HCAP Ranges Tests, in conjunction with the Midland National Shooting Grounds, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, where all HCAP Range Tests are currently held.

It is a fact that many candidates experience some greater or lesser degree of difficulty with the Range Test stage of HCAP Certification, due to unfamiliarity of shooting in a twenty-man Firing Detail, lack of practice, failure to ensure in advance that the firearm is properly zeroed or just plain nerves on the day.

Tony Saunders and John Paul Craven of the Midlands Range will give one-to-one tutoring, guidance and assistance to HCAP Candidates (on a date prior to each Range Test – not on date of Range Test) at a set once-off cost of €50.00 per person, allowing for one to two hours individual attention based on one-day Range membership.

This arrangement is strictly between the individual candidate and Midlands Range personnel.
To avail of this special opportunity, contact Tony Saunders 087 097 7589 or John Paul Craven, 086 823 2641 directly.

HCAP RANGE TEST SATURDAY 29th JULY 2017: CANDIDATES

The Range Test for HCAP Candidates having successfully completed their MCQ in June 2017 will take place on Saturday 29th July 2017 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 will be posted separately.

This list includes some Candidates who deferred their Range Test on 13th May 2017 but who remain eligible to participate on 29th July 2017.

The following is the list of eligible candidates:

Allard, John, 2017/0096
Barry, John, 2017/0076
Bonner, Tarlach, 2017/0142
Brady, Derek, 2017/0133
Breen, Gavin, 2017/0115
Brown, Martin, 2017/0116
Burke, Philip Jonathan, 2017/0155
Carroll, Chris, 2017/0151
Carrig, Michael, 2017/0105
Casey, Tomas, 2017/0108
Chan, Bobby, 2017/0139
Chan, Ryan, 2017/0140
Coady, William, 2017/0136
Connolly, Bernard, 2017/0060
Cooney, Desmond, 2017/0100
Conroy, Fergal, 2017/0135
Corcoran, David, 2017/0166
Corcoran, Eugene, 2017/0167
Corcoran, Paul, 2017/0127
Cullen, Niall, 2017/0107
Divito, Ercole, 2017/0003
Donnelly, Hugh, 2017/0150
Dunne, Fintan, 2017/0120
Fahey, David, 2017/0112
Fahy, Ronan, 2017/0130
Forster, Karl, 2017/0125
Fox, Liam, 2017/0010
Galvin, David, 2017/0158
Gregory, Peter, 2017/0143
Harmon, Hugh, 2017/0129
Harman, Mark, 2017/0172
Harmon, William, 2017/0170
Hartigan Mark, 2017/0156
Hoctor, Niall, 2017/0134
Hughes, Timothy, 2017/0055
Jackson, Aindriu, 2017/0114
Janczak, Tomasz, 2017/0153
Johnston, James, 2017/0097
Kelly, Matthew, 2017/0113
Keogh, Patrick, 2017/0171
Kerry, Wayne, 2017/0101
Kirwan, Alan, 2016/0079
Lynch, Kevin, 2017/0124
McCann, Jim, 2017/0098
McCarthy, Frank, 2017/169
McEnroy, Connor, 2017/0037
McLoughlin, Liam, 2017/0148
Mulvany, Oisin, 2017/0131
Murphy, P. J., 2017/0146
Nolan, Tom, 2017/0103
Nooney, Noel, 2017/0126
O’Connor, William, 2017/0102
O’Donnell, Francis, 2017/0106
Oertzen, Cassian, 2017/0132
O’Hara, Patrick, 2017/0159
O’Neill, Christopher, 2017/0161
O’Shaughnessy, William 2017/0099
O’Sullivan, Martin, 2017/0168
Palmer, Paul, 2017/0154
Payne, Desmond, 2017/0122
Raggett, Mark, 2017/0119
Redmond, Terry, 2017/0104
Rizzini, Alberto, 2007/0049
Roache, Fred, 2017/0111
Robinson, Raymond, 2017/0091
Rooney, Niall, 2017/0050
Scanlon, John, 2017/0121
Seery, Ken, 2017/0110
Shaw, Leslie, 2017/0147
Sherlock, Edward, 2017/0152
Sherwin, Philip, 2017/0141
Shortt, Trevor, 2017/0031
Skerritt, Adam, 2017/0157
Spencer-Jones, Luke, 2017/0024
Vaughan, Noe, 2017/0144
Walsh. Glen, 2017/0145
Whelan, Barry, 2017/0128
White, Daniel, 2017/0117
Wignall, Terence, 2017/0123
Williams, Howard, 2017/0005
Wilson, David, 2017/0109