Red deer stag in Connemara. Photograph by Paul Wood. Click to enlarge.

The Deer Alliance has completed its round of Hunter Competence Assessment Programme (HCAP) MCQs and Range Tests for 2014, resulting in another 120 candidates joining the ranks of HCAP-Certified stalkers who have completed the programme, now totalling some 2000 licensed hunters.

HCAP was introduced in 2005 following four years of development and enters its tenth year of operation next year. All hunters wishing to hunt wild deer on Coillte forest property or to hold forest properties under licence from Coillte are required to be HCAP-Certified. The Deer Alliance this year added Training Workshops as an adjunct to the programme, with Workshops and MCQ Assessments centralised in Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny. All Range Tests are held at the Midland National Shooting Centre, at Blue Ball, Tullamore. The Workshops in particular have proven highly successful, according to Liam Nolan, Director/Administrator of HCAP, who presents the Workshops. Guest speakers at Workshops have included Barry Coad, Deer, Game & Sporting Rights Manager of Coillte, Wesley Atkinson, Eastern Regional Manager of the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Liam McGarry of the Irish Deer Society, Joe Murphy of the Irish Trophy Commission and Damien Hannigan of WDAI.

The Deer Alliance programme for 2015 will be announced early in the New Year. An announcement is imminent concerning the proposed Deer Alliance Food Safety Module, in compliance with Regulation EC 853/2004, which covers safe game meat handling requirements.

Intending HCAP Candidates can apply online on the Deer Alliance website, www.deeralliance.ie. The Deer Alliance Stalker Training Manual can also be purchased through the “Online Applications” section of the website, and further announcements can also be accessed through the blog section.