Applications for the 2022/2023 Deer Hunting Season now open and mandatory certification training for first time hunters launched

Applications for the 2022/2023 Deer Hunting Season now open and mandatory certification training for first time hunters launched

The National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has announced that application forms and guidance notes for the 2022/2023 deer hunting season are now available on the NPWS website at www.npws.ie.

This season will see the introduction of mandatory certification training for first time hunters. The Department through NPWS has been committed to the introduction of this certification training and Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, T.D., said:

“I am delighted that we have now introduced mandatory certification training for first time hunters. This is a vital addition to the deer hunting licencing process and I know these training courses will be delivered to a high and professional standard. The addition of this certification will further enhance safety throughout the countryside and ensure first time hunters are provided with essential knowledge in deer stalking.”

Currently there are three courses approved by the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage through NPWS. The Deer Alliance Hunter Competence Assessment Programme (HCAP); Country Sports Ireland’s Deer Stalking Training Course and NARGC’s Deer Stalking Certificate and links to the relevant courses can be found on www.npws.ie or through the outlets’ own websites. Further courses may be approved by the Department as they become available.

The Department continues to modernise the deer hunting licencing process with the introduction of mandatory certification training and work is in train on the development of an eLicencing application system.

Despite the challenges of the past two years, the Department strived to ensure all applications were dealt with in a timely manner and last season, for the first time, over 6,000 licences were issued.

ENDS

Notes

Under the Wildlife Acts, annual licences are required to hunt deer during the Open Season, which is the period during which deer can be legally shot. The Open Season for deer operates generally from 1 September in a given year to 28 February the following year, depending on the species and gender of deer. Over 6,000 deer hunting licences were issued last season.

March 23, 2022

IFA Countryside Members Complete HCAP Workshop

IFA Countryside Members Complete HCAP Workshop

Twenty-five members of IFA Countryside were among the sixty-five candidates participating in the Deer Alliance HCAP Training Workshop and MCQ held in the Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Carlow on 12th March 2022.

Successful participants from this event will complete their HCAP qualification with their Range Test at the Midland Range on 2nd April 2022. The next event in the Deer Alliance HCAP 2022 Series will take place on 23rd April 2022. Seen here are IFA Countryside members Paddy Brennan, Niall Byrne, Steven Casciani, Noel Cronin, Sean Finn, John Foxton, Humphrey Foxton, David Hanlon, Stephen Hunter, Joseph Kelly,  Meehan, Ollie, Daniel, Moloney, Aaron Moore, Patrick, Moore, Greg Murphy, Christina O’Shea, Liam Power, Lee Redmond, Alin Oderel Rusu, Shane Sweeney and Brian Vaughan.

Bookings are now open for the next scheduled HCAP Training Workshop & MCQ, which will take place on Saturday 23rd April 2022 at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Kilkenny Road, Carlow, Co. Carlow, R93 N207 (10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.), followed by the Range Test at the Midland Range, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly (date to be fixed).

March 23, 2022

DEER HUNTING LICENCES UPDATE FOR 2021/2022 SEASON

DEER HUNTING LICENCES UPDATE FOR 2021/2022 SEASON

The NPWS have published details of the application process for the 2021/2022 season.

Full details can be found at https://www.npws.ie/licences/hunting/deer-hunting-licences-2021-2022

Points to Note:

  • Application forms and further info on the 2021/22 season will be posted on 15 March 2021.
  • Application packs are not being sent to hunters who held a licence for 2020/2021 at this stage, but this is subject to review.
  • Applicants are not required to submit a signed landowner permission at this time due to current travel restrictions, but must provide all landowner permission details on the app form.
  • Applicants can still provide Coillte permits with their application.
  • Please make an application asap once the forms are available on the 15th March.
  • If you are a New applicant, you must complete the application form and have permission from a landowner(s) to hunt deer on land of at least 100 acres (42 hectares).  However, if you are applying to hunt deer on your own lands, the 100 acre requirement does not apply.

March 5, 2021