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.

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.

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.

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-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.

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.

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

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.

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

The following candidates (HCAP numbers, followed by mark achieved) were successful in the HCAP MCQ held in Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny, on Saturday 26th June 2017 and are eligible to participate in the HCAP Range Test to be held at the Midlands Range on Saturday 29th July 2017. Procedures for Range Tests will be posted here separately in due course.

In addition, a further eight candidates who were Deferrals or No-Shows at the Range Test held on Saturday 13th May 2017 will be eligible to participate on 29th July 2017 and will be added to the list of names when posted here.

Fourteen candidates who were Deferrals or No-Shows at this MCQ on 24th June 2017 will be carried forward to the next scheduled MCQ in 2018.

2017/0147, 100%, Pass
2017/0096, 98%, Pass
2017/0076, 96%, Pass
2017/0142, 98%, Pass
2017/0105, 100%, Pass
2017/0108, 96%, Pass
2017/0139, 98%, Pass
2017/0140, 100%, Pass
2017/0136, 94%, Pass
2017/0100, 90%, Pass
2017/0135, 96%, Pass
2017/0166, 96%, Pass
2017/0167, 98%, Pass
2017/0130, 94%, Pass
2017/0125, 98%, Pass
2017/0158, 90%, Pass
2017/0133, 90%, Pass
2017/0115, 92%, Pass
2017/0116, 98%, Pass
2017/0155, 98%, Pass
2017/0151, 98%, Pass
2017/0143, 92%, Pass
2017/0129, 98%, Pass
2017/0172, 96%, Pass
2017/0170, 98%, Pass
2017/0156, 93%, Pass
2017/0127, 90%, Pass
2017/0107, 98%, Pass
2017/0150, 94%, Pass
2017/0120, 84%, Pass
2017/0112, 94%, Pass
2017/0134, 96%, Pass
2017/0055, 84%, Pass
2017/0114, 94%, Pass
2017/0153, 98%, Pass
2017/0157, 100%, Pass
2017/0144, 98%, Pass
2017/0145, 98%, Pass
2017/0128, 92%, Pass
2017/0117, 92%, Pass
2017/0123, 100%, Pass
2017/0097, 100%, Pass
2017/0113, 98%, Pass
2017/0171, 96%, Pass
2017/0101, 96%, Pass
2017/0124, 88%, Pass
2017/0103, 92%, Pass
2017/0126, 94%, Pass
2017/0102, 94%, Pass
2017/0106, 98%, Pass
2017/0132, 100%, Pass
2017/0159, 98%, Pass
2017/0161, 95%, Pass
2017/0099, 100%, Pass
2017/0168, 98%, Pass
2017/0154, 100%, Pass
2017/0122, 100%, Pass
2017/0119, 96%, Pass
2017/0104, 96%, Pass
2017/0098, 98%, Pass
2017/169, 96%, Pass
2017/0148, 94%, Pass
2017/0131, 82%, Pass
2017/0146, 98%, Pass
2007/0049, 96%, Pass
2017/0111, 94%, Pass
2017/0121, 98%, Pass
2017/0110, 98%, Pass
2017/0152, 98%, Pass
2017/0141, 90%, Pass
2017/0109, 98%, Pass
2017/0091, 90%, Pass.
2017/0160, 86%, Pass

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

2017/0162, 72%, Fail
2017/0164, 74%, Fail
2017/0165, 74%, Fail
2017/0163, 76%, Fail
2017/0137, 76%, Fail

Unfortunately, one “Fail” candidate left eight questions unanswered, leading to an overall “Fail” mark. Unanswered questions on the MCQ paper are treated as incorrect answers.

In another case, a “Fail” candidate entered an incorrect HCAP number, however this was rectified and did not affect the final mark on his paper.

We regret we cannot provide an analysis of answers except where a result is appealed under the procedure outlined above. All papers are double-checked and where there is ambiguity in an answer, the benefit of doubt is given to the candidate.