From time to time the Deer Alliance receives queries from home-based stalkers regarding recognition of qualifications and/or hunting competence assessments obtained outside Ireland, such as the British Deer Society DMQ/DSC. For the benefit of such enquirers, we set out below the statement issued by Coillte Teoranta to and through the Deer Alliance Development Committee and Deer Alliance HCAP Assessment Committee in March 2005, when the HCAP programme was formally launched following four years of development and consultation.

As will be evident from the statement, it is strict Coillte policy that residents of the Republic of Ireland are required to achieve HCAP Certification as a condition of applying for or holding a licence to hunt deer on Coillte land, or applying for a deer hunting permit as a nominated stalker, by specified dates.

Non-residents must either achieve HCAP Certification or provide evidence of having achieved a similar, approved, certified hunting competence assessment.

The Deer Alliance HCAP Assessment Committee is the competent authority for determining what constitutes a “similar, approved, certified hunting competence assessment”.

INDEPENDENT CERTIFICATION OF HUNTERS OF WILD DEER ON COILLTE FOREST PROPERTY:
STATEMENT FROM COILLTE TEORANTA

“On a phased basis from the 1st of January 2005, all persons intending to hunt deer on Coillte lands will be required to have satisfactorily completed an approved Hunter Competence Assessment Programme.

For residents of the Republic of Ireland:

All Irish residents tendering for a licence to hunt wild deer on Coillte lands on, or after the 1st of January 2008 must have satisfactorily completed The Irish Hunter Competence Assessment Programme and provide evidence of this when making their tender.

All persons (licensees and nominated hunters) applying for a deer hunting permit for Coillte lands on, or after the 1st of January 2010 must have satisfactorily completed The Irish Hunter Competence Assessment Programme and provide evidence of this when making their application for such permits.

For non- residents of the Republic of Ireland:

All non-Irish residents tendering for a licence to hunt wild deer, or applying for a deer stalking permit on Coillte lands, on or after the 1st of January 2008 must have satisfactorily completed the Irish Hunter Competence Assessment Programme or a similar, approved, certified hunting competence assessment and provide evidence of this when making their application for such a licence or permit.”