HCAP

sniperman

hi all, is the HCAP hard to pass?i believe there is 50 or so questions,plus range test,will it all happen in one day?thanks,.............reasons for asking,thinking of going down the deer hunting route next season,so be prepared for lots of questions to come:D

viper123

Simple answer is no. 50 multiple choice questions out of a selection of 400 or so followed by a range test. 100m prone, 60m kneeling and 40m standing sitting a liver sized target.

270WIN

unless you are getting into a coillte letting there is no need to do it....but its no harm to do it anyway.

sniperman

270WIN wrote: »

unless you are getting into a coillte letting there is no need to do it....but its no harm to do it anyway.

well unless i can get private permission,it may have to be a coillte let.but im getting more determined to get into this kind of hunting,and want to do all thats necessary,thanks

Cass

No experience with the written part, but the range test is a piece of piss. As above it's three "zeroing" shots at a 6" white disc with a 2" inner. All shots must be in this.

When you've passed the zeroing you move onto the actual test. It starts with two shots at 100 yards in the prone position, rested (bipod, backpack, bag, etdc.). The target is the heart lung area which is fairly big and frankly it couldn't be missed if your rifle is zeroed.

You then move onto the kneeling/sitting position at 60 yds. Two more shots at the same area. You can use sticks here or anything you'd use in the field.

Then finally the standing position. Again you have the choice of freehand or sticks. Two shots into the same area and you're done.

You leave the rifle at that firing position (after being cleared by the ROs) and go forward to check your target. Once all six shots are in the target area you pass.

Even if you fail one part you get another chance to repeat it on the day. Never have i seen anyone fail it utterly. The key part is having a proven 100 yard zero and knowing any drops as you go from 100 to 40 yards. Also don't overthink it, its fairly straight forward.

cookimonster

I'm not reformatting this as I've nearly hopped the phone off the wall trying to retrive this from my phone documents and pasting it here.
These are questions I compiled from various documents etc and will do as a study aid to the HCAP.
Now I highly recommend reading broadly from such publications as the HCAP manual, any of the British / Scottish on line documents ( ignore the law, hygiene regulations and non native species) to improve your knowledge.

SAMPLE HCAP QUESTIONS

1. What is the commonest and most widespread species of deer in Ireland?
a. Fallow
2. To whom are you obliged to show your hunting licence if challenged while out stalking?
a. Coillte Representatives
b. Garda
c. Wild Life Rangers
d. All of the above
3. What are the best months to carry out a census of woodland deer?
a. March-April
4. What are the main physical differences between sika deer and fallow deer?
a. Tail length
b. Antler Type
c. Caudal Patch (rump)
d. All of the above
5. What should be the main objectives of a good deer manager?
a. Shoot enough deer to keep the herd in balance with the habitat available.
6. "Deer are colour-blind, so wearing hi-visibility clothing while stalking (as recommended by Coillte) has no effect on the success or failure of your stalk". Is this statement true or false?
a. True
7. "The current standard Coillte sporting licence stipulates that, for health, animal disease prevention and vermin control reasons, the gralloch (offal or viscera from a shot deer) must always be buried inside the forest immediately after shooting". Is this statement true or false?
a. False
8. You have shot a deer and wish to sell the carcass to a registered game dealer. You have no chilling facilities at home. Within what time frame must the carcass be presented to the game dealer?
a. 12
9. Where are scent glands in deer located?
a. Suborbital -under eyes
b. Interdigetal- between hooves
c. Metatarsal -below hock
d. All three
10. What is the average gestation period in Irish deer species?
a. 71/2-8 months 240days
11. Where should you place warning notices prior to commencing stalking on Coillte property?
a. All points of entry to the property
12. What is the minimum legally-required muzzle energy of a rifle intended for hunting deer?
a. 1,700lb/ft
13. What is the minimum recommended deer legal calibre
a. .240, with 100 grain bullet and 1900 foot-pounds of energy at muzzle.
14. Bovine tuberculosis is a scheduled and notifiable disease. If you find evidence of TB in a deer carcase, who must bylaw be notified?
a. Local District Veterinary Office
15. When examining a deer carcase for bovine tuberculosis, where should you look for evidence of infection or abscessation?
a. Lymph nodes
b. Lung tissue
c. Liver tissue
d. All three
16. Where are the retropharyngeal lymph nodes located?
a. Head
17. The current open season for fallow does in Co. Dublin runs from what date to what date?
a. 1st November - 28th February
18. The current closed season for sika stags in Co. Wicklow is from what date to what date?
a. 31st December - 28th February
19. Within which daily time frame may you legally hunt wild deer on private land (assuming that you are fully licensed and authorised in every respect)?
a. From one hour before dawn until one hour after sunset
20. The current standard Coillte licence /permit allows you to stalk deer between what hours of each day?
a. From dawn until 11.00hrs (am)
21. You want to do a deer count on the forest area that you stalk, in order to confirm the proposed cull. You propose doing this at night with the aid of a lamp. In what circumstances can you do this?
a. Under licence from NPWS
22. Who owns wild deer while they are alive?
a. No body
23. Who owns wild deer once they are legally hunted, shot and killed?
a. The Stalker
24. The ordinary period for which a deer hunting licence maybe granted runs from what date to what date?
a. Aug 1 - July 31
25. You are out shooting foxes during the closed season for deer, on land where you have permission to hunt deer. In what circumstances may you legally shoot red deer?
a. For humane reasons only
26. You are out shooting foxes during the closed season for deer, on land where you have permission to hunt deer. In what circumstances may you legally shoot sika or fallow deer?
a. For humane reasons only
27. Where is the caudal disc located on a sika deer?
a. The rump
28. What is the current minimum age at which application may be made for a deer hunting licence?
a. 16
29. What is the current minimum age at which a person is entitled to hold a full firearms certificate?
a. 16
30. The effect of rising deer numbers in an area is likely to be first noticed by observing what?
a. Damage to agricultural land and farm crops
31. What is meant by "the shot clock"?
a. Shows the optimum area for bullet placement
32. In what circumstances may a deer if found injured on the road, apparently beyond the prospect of saving, be legally killed?
a. Any time, by anyone.
33. Coillte reserves concurrent rights to control deer on some licensed properties. When will these rights normally be exercised and to remove what type of animals?
a. Deer and other species when it is considered necessary for good management.
34. Motorised vehicular access to Coillte property is permitted for what purposes only?
a. Retrieval of carcasses only
35. When is it legal in Ireland to hunt or kill deer with a bow and arrow especially designed for deer hunting?
a. Never
36. The metatarsal gland on a sika hind is located where?
a. Hock / Leg
37. The metatarsal gland on a mature sika stag is what colour?
a. White
38. You shoot a deer, which kicks out high in the air with its hind legs before moving off with lowered head and hunched back. In what part of its body has it most likely been shot?
a. Stomach
39. A distinct trail of bright red blood indicates a deer shot in what part of its body?
Heart
a.
40. A reasonable estimation of the age of a culled male deer can be gained from what aspects of its body?
a. Size and shape of pedicle / antlers
41. What should be the correct point of aim when shooting at a target steeply below the shooter?
a. Lower than normal point of aim
42. What should be the correct point of aim when shooting at a target steeply above the shooter?
a. Lower than normal point of aim
43. When shooting deer in woods or on level ground safety can be improved by:
a. Using a high seat
44. Which of the following deer wallow most readily?
a. Sika / Red
45. When should you take off the safety catch whilst deer stalking?
a. When you are in the aim and about to squeeze the trigger
46. Stalking in fog is:
a. Dangerous because you cannot be sure of a safe backdrop
47. Where are a deer's antlers shed and regrown from each year?
a. The pedicle
48. Slka hinds usually
a. Give birth to a single calf
49. Tree bole scoring with antler points is predominantly done by which of the following species?
a. Sika / hybrids
50. How many offspring will wild Red deer hinds produce?
a. They will very rarely bear twin calves
51. Which is the best point of aim to ensure a humane kill at most sensible distances?
a. Half way up the body just behind the shoulder
52. If you only intend to shoot one deer, how much ammunition should you carry whilst stalking?
a. One round loaded in the rifle, more than one in the magazine and some spare in a pocket
53. Which of the following items is the most important for a sensible stalker to carry with him whilst out stalking?
a. A pull through and cleaning patch
54. How is a Sika stag's rutting activity in woodland best described?
a. Using a rutting stand to attract hinds
b. Herding hinds into a harem
c. Defence of a territory
d. A mixture of all three strategies
55. What best describes a Red hind's alarm call?
a. A deep bark
56. You shoot a deer and it falls down, when you approach it you believe it to be dead, what should your first action be?
a. Check it is dead by touching an eyeball and watching for reaction
57. Which of the follwing best describes the behaviour pattern within a Red deer hind herd
a. There is a definite pecking order of
58. For a few days after their birth, young deer generally:
a. Are left alone in cover by their mothers between suckling
59. What is the correct name for black coloured Fallow deer?
a. Melanistic
60. The majority of highland Red deer when resting:
a. Usually lie down watching downhill
61. What is the term used to describe the covering of a deer's growing antlers
a. Velvet
62. If firing at a deer 100 yards away with a strong 30 mph wind blowing from left to right and you have to take the shot, where should you aim?
a. 3 inches left
63. You are offered some ammunition hand loaded by a friend which he finds performs well in his rifle. What should you do?
a. Test the ammunition when you next go to the range
64. "Browsing" is the term which describes:
a. Deer feeding on leaves and buds
65. How would you describe a Sika hind's alarm call?
a. A short sharp squeak
66. Which species are Sika deer closest in size to?
a. Fallow deer
67. For the rut the neck of a Fallow buck looks much thicker because?
a. Neck muscles have enlarged
68. If lice are present which is the most likely area in which to notice them on a deer
a. Groin
69. What is the feeding pattern of mature Red stags during the peak of the rut?
a. They feed very little and lose weight
70. What colour are the caudal markings and back stripe on menil Fallow?
a. Lig ht brown
71. Deer are rarely seen to drink. This is because:
a. They get most of the water they need from their food
72. After having bred once, a Red hind is likely to?
a. Occasionally miss a year and not bear a calf
73. A reasonable estimation of the age class of a deer when it has been killed can be gained from:
a. The amount of wear on its teeth
74. Which of the following species most obviously flares out the hair on its rump patch when alarmed?
a. Sika
75. The male of which the following species grows a mane in the rut?
a. Red deer
76. When do most mature Sika stags cast their antlers?
a. March
77. When is the peak of the Fallow rut?
a. October/November
78. What is indicated by a Red deer which watches intently and stamps its foot?
a. It is suspicious at something seen, but not identified
79. If you accidentally plug your barrel with peat or snow, what should you do?
a. Unload all cartridges at once and clean the bore
80. "Pronking" is a gait usually associated with which species of deer?
a. Fallow
81. What colour is the velvet covering the antlers of Japanese Sika stags?
a. Black
82. When taking a shot in the field it is good practice and an aid to accuracy:
a. To place the hand holding the fore-stock between a firm surface and the stock for support
83. What is the main purpose of stalking to within easy range of a deer?
a. To ensure a humane kill
84. If, on a telescopic sight one click of the adjustment knob will move the bullet impact 1 centimetres at 100m.How far will bullet impact move per click at 25 metres?
a. 1/4 centimetre
85. What is the maximum distance that a bullet from a deer rifle might travel if there is no solid backstop?
a. 3500 - 4500 metres
86. Fraying is the term used to describe which activity of a male deer?
a. Rubbing the bark from trees and shrubs with antlers
87. A female deer will not conceive unless:
a. She reaches a certain threshold body weight
88. In the spring Fallow deer are usually found
a. In groups with the does and fawns living separately from the older bucks
89. The word hind is correctly applied to the female of which of the following deer species?
a. Sika
90. If your rifle is zeroed "spot-on" at 100 yards, approximately where will your shots at 200 yards go?
a. A few inches low
91. In order to contain or exclude Red deer an effective fence should be?
a. 2 metres high
92. Scent glands in deer are located:
a. Between hooves, in corner of eye and outside hock
93. What is the spin imparted to a bullet by the rifling intended to do?
a. Improve its stability in flight
94. Which male antlered deer usually cast their antlers first?
a. Old animals
95. What does the call of a rutting Fallow buck on his stand sound like?
a. A rhythmic belching noise repeated continuously for some minutes
96. You are stalking in woodland and spot a deer from a range of about 40 metres behind a large tree. All you can see is the animal's head looking sideways. What is the recommended procedure for taking a shot?
a. Wait until it exposes the chest area and take a heart/lung shot
97. What is included in a territorial display typical of Sika stags in woodland
a. Scoring the bark of trees deeply with their antler points
98. Which of the following statements is true about warble fly in deer?
a. It is common in Red deer in Scotland has been reported in Donegal
99. Compared to Sika deer, Fallow deer have
a. A longer tail
100. Within woodlands, at what range are the majority of deer shot?
a. 0-100 metres
101. In what month is the usual peak of the Red deer rut
a. October
102. In Red deer, a 'Royal' head has:
a. 12 points with 3 in a "crown" on each top
103. Which of the following is NOT true? During the rut Fallow bucks
a. Make scrapes
104. Before you climb into a highseat what should you do:
a. Check the ladder and seat for damage and unload your rifle before climbing into the seat
105. After successfully shooting a deer from a group, what should you do?
a. Stay still until the remaining deer in the immediate area have moved out of sight
106. You are on a steep bank above a deer, which shooting position is likely to be the most comfortable and stable?
a. Sitting
107. You find some conspicuous curiously flattened insects scuttling through the deer's hair. What are they?
a. Keds
108. Which of these species seldom has upper canine teeth when mature?
a. Fallow
109. When do the majority of Red stags normally cast their antlers?
a. March-May
110. Mature Red stags and hinds:
a. Form separate single sex herds except during the rut
111. Describe what a bullet's trajectory is?
a. The path of the bullet in flight
112. If a shot at a deer for no apparent reason misses or does not hit where expected, before shooting at another deer a responsible stalker should do what?
a. Fire carefully at a target to check the rifle is still correctly zeroed
113. Which of the following statements best describes the damage inflicted on trees by Red deer
a. Red deer eat tree bark by chiselling and stripping it off
114. When are most Sika calves born?
a. May/June
115. The use of a stick (or split sticks) as a stalking aid is:
a. Sensible because it makes shooting and spying steadier
116. Which of these external parasites can carry Lyme Disease?
a. Ticks
117. How is a newly-born Red deer calf coloured?
a. Chestnut coloured with dappled white spots
118. After the shot, the deer kicks out with its hind legs and rushes into cover with neck outstretched. Traces of pink and frothy blood are found. Where has it been hit?
a. The lungs
119. When a deer drops instantly to the shot, what should you do?
a. Remain where you are, ready to shoot again if it seems about to rise
120. What type of antler growth does a Red deer "hummel" have?
a. No antlers
121. If you leave oil in your rifle barrel what is likely to happen to your first shot at 100 metres?
a. It will go somewhere other than where the rifle is normally
122. Good, mature, Fallow bucks usually carry antlers which are?
a. Wide and flattened or palmated
123. Which of the following species of deer is considered native to the Ireland i.e. resident in here since the Ice Age?
a. Red
124. To what is the term 'knobber" in Red deer attributed?
a. A young stag yet to grow his first antlers
125. If you have to shoot an injured deer at close range by shooting it again, what should you do?
a. Ensure there is a soft safe backstop behind the deer to stop the bullet
126. To which species are Sika deer most closely related to?
a. Red deer
127. You should check the lymph glands associated with a deer's gut for signs of disease. When you do so healthy lymph glands should be?
a. Coloured grey or pinky brown
128. When stalking deer in thick cover you should:
a. Not take any shots at deer behind bushes or other cover
129. When are the majority of Fallow fawns born?
a. June/July
130. If a Red deer calf is orphaned early in the open hind season might it?
a. Pine away for lack of parental attention
131. When do Red stags usually stand on their hind legs and box with their forefeet?
a. After they have cast their antlers
132. When should the bolt be removed from the rifle whilst stored in the home
a. All the time to avoid its use by an unauthorised person e.g. child/thief
133. How would you describe the rump markings of a "common" variety of Fallow deer?
a. A white disc with black horseshoe-shaped mark round the upper side and a broad black stripe onthe tail
134. Before zeroing your rifle what should you do?
a. Clean the bore and check the bedding and mounting screws are tight
135. In late autumn/early winter which intemal organ is most likely to be encased in fat?
a. Kidneys
136. Someone offers you a rifle with the bolt closed. What should you do?
a. Refuse to accept the rifle until he/she proves that it is unloaded
137. A yeld Red hind is one which has?
a. No calf being suckled that year
138. What is the advantage in using a highseat?
a. All of the answers listed
b. The deer may not smell the stalker
c. The shot is likely to be safer than one taken from ground level
d. The deer may not see the stalker
139. When crawling towards deer with a companion what best describes the recommended condition for the rifles?
a. Only the leader's rifle should be loaded and pointed forwards
140. A mature Sika stag typically:
a. Lives in a stag herd except during the rut
141. In what month do the majority of Fallow bucks usually start to shed their velvet?
a. August
142. The male of which of the following species "roars" during the rut?
a. Red deer
143. Male Fallow have usually left their mother's social group by the age of?
a. 2 years
144. A Sika/Red hybrid often shows traits of both species. Which characteristic if found on an adult Red deer might suggest it is a SikajRed hybrid?
a. Prominent metatarsal gland
145. The male of which deer species usually holds a rutting "stand"?
a. Red deer
146. After a shot, the deer falls down and gets up almost immediately or staggers before rushing away - only a few drops of blood, some short hair and a long splinter of bone is found. Where has it been hit?
a. The leg
147. How is Sika deer feeding behaviour best described?
a. A mixture of browsing and grazing
148. Define what zeroing a rifle and telescopic sight involves?
a. Adjusting your group to coincide with your point of aim at a chosen range
149. The effect of rising numbers of deer in an area is likely to be first noticed through:
a. Reduced diversity of plants at ground level and increased crop damage
150. What is the advantage of a telescopic sight?
a. You can shoot more accurately at all ranges
151. What is the primary natural limiting factor of a healthy deer's life span?
a. It's teeth wearing out so that it cannot feed efficiently
152. The female deer of which species is correctly called a doe as opposed to a hind or cow?
a. Fallow deer
153. A wounded deer is struggling hard but seems unable to run away and could possibly be approached Should it be:
a. Shot again
154. How would you best describe the rump patch of Red deer in winter coat?
a. It is yellowish and runs up onto the back above the tail
155. If it is not possible to bleed and gralloch a deer immediately, what is the maximum time a carcass should be left in hot weather to avoid unacceptable deterioration
a. 30min
156. During the Red deer rut, the most hinds are likely to be held by:
a. The heaviest stags with the best body condition
157. Continental or metric rifle calibre's are often described with two numbers e.g. 6.5 x 57; 7 x 57;7 x 64; - the second figure refers to?
a. The case length in millimetres
158. What is the colour of a Japanese Sika deer's summer coat?
a. Chestnut with white spots and pale belly
159. A safe backstop is required before you take a shot at a deer. What is the best form of backstop?
a. A rising bank of soft ground
160. How do Sika stags mark out territories in the rut?
a. With both wallows and scrapes in which they often urinate and by fraying trees
161. Deer under normal undisturbed conditions will:
a. Feed in cycles of a few hours with peaks at dawn/dusk
162. The top points along the palm of a Fallow buck's antlers are called?
a. Spellers
163. What is the preferred habitat of most species of deer in the Ireland?
a. Woodland margins
164. Carrying a rifle with the firing pin resting on a chambered round is
a. Always dangerous and is an unacceptable practice
165. The adult coat of which of the following species usually displays many white spots in the summer?
a. Fallow deer
166. Which of the following descriptions does NOT apply to deer droppings?
a. Fibrous
167. Obturation is necessary to form an effective seal between the cartridge case and the chamber of your rifle. How might an ineffective seal be indicated
a. Black streaks from the neck down the outside of the
168. The antler casting cycle is mainly governed by which hormone?
a. Testosterone
169. Under what circumstances do female deer usually give birth to their young?
a. Quietly and alone in cover
170. When stalking alone on leased ground, which of the following is most useful to carry:
a. Permission to stalk signed by the landowner/holder of the stalking
171. A pronounced hanging "tassel" and "Adam's apple" are associated with the males of which of the following deer species?
a. Fallow deer
172. A buck whose antlers in season are a spongy mass of velvet (a perruque head) should:
a. Be culled as it may become infected and he will probably die
173. Which colour configuration do Japanese Sika hinds appear to have in winter coat?
a. A drab sooty grey colour all over with paler underbelly
174. After the shot, a deer hunches its back and walks slowly into cover. This is a typical reaction from an animal which has been hit in:
a. The gut
175. Which deer gives a repeated rising and falling whistle in the rut?
a. Sika
176. Bovine Tuberculosis is a notifiable disease - the most common symptoms are:
a. Infected lymph glands at the back of throat, in the gralloch and/or the pluck
177. Which of the following factors are most important for safety in the choice of a stalker's knife
a. Non-slip handle
178. When are most Red deer calves born?
a. Late May to June
179. If your rifle is shooting 3 inches left when you sight it in at 25 yards, at 100 yards where will it shoot?
a. 12 inches left
180. By what age do Fallow deer generally attain a full set of erupted permanent teeth?
a. 24-30 months
181. With which other species will Fallow deer hybridise
a. None of those listed
182. At what distance can Red deer detect human wind-bome scent?
a. Over a mile under certain conditions
183. If you smoke a cigarette while out stalking
a. The smoke will have no affect on the stalk and it can show you wind direction
184. How many points on their antlers do mature Japanese Sika stags normally have?
a. 8 point heads
185. In the daytime during July/August up land Red stags are usually found
a. In stag herds on the high ground
186. What are normally the last deer to change from winter coat into summer coat?
a. Old deer
187. If you suspect that you have wounded a deer and it has disappeared from sight, what should you do?
a. Wait for 10-15 minutes before going forward to the place where it was standing when shot
188. A Fallow buck is killed in autumn. The end of the penis sheath is black/brown and looks like dry cracked earth. What is this a sign of?
a. Normal rutting condition
189. A carcass is found to have many white grubs under the skin along its back. What are these likely to be?
a. Warble fly larvae
190. What is the general movement pattern of open hill Red deer?
a. They move to lower ground during the hours of darkness
191. Why do deer ruminate?
a. It is essential to their digestion
192. How are deer wallows best described?
a. Muddy and often scented with urine
193. The nasal bot fly parasite:
a. Causes the deer persistent irritation and discomfort
194. Which male deer sometimes shed "milky tears" during the rut
a. Sika
195. Wallowing by Red deer:
a. Is done by both stags and hinds
196. The metatarsal gland on the outer side of the hock of a mature Japanese Sika deer is:
a. Conspicuous, 2 inch long and white or pale grey in colour
197. The complete permanent dentition of a Fallow deer consists of how many teeth?
a. 32
198. On which coat do wild Sika deer have readily visible white spots?
a. Summer coats only
199. When feeding on the open hill Red deer:
a. Keep their heads into the wind
200. What is the definition of the term "headspace?
a. The distance between the closed bolt face and a datum point on the chambered cartridge case
201. A deer which has a pronounced "U" or "V" shaped pale line across its brows and frowns when it looks at you is likely to be what?
a. A Sika

sniperman

thanks very much lads,sorry if im being a pain,gonna do the course this year,, and hopefully be out stalking next season,ive a bit to learn yet ,

Cass

Its a simple adage, but a true one. The trigger pull is the easy part. The work starts after that.

Get out and try to get a stalk in with someone you know. Even when you get your license i'd still stick with a good stalker for a season or two.

RKMG

I started stalking around 4 years ago with no real other previous hunting experience, I completed the HCAP which wasn't the worst thing in the world to do if you are starting out but by far the biggest help to me was finding something who was willing to let me tag along on their stalks. I did that as much as I could before I got my rifle and I still do it whenever I can get the chance.
Cass is definitely right about the work only really starting after you pull the trigger though

daithi55

you will learn nothing on the hcap sniperman its just a box ticking exercise to cover coilltes ass..
ive done it so im talking from experience
there is no hands on in the course they wont have any animals for you to look at etc..
best way to learn is go out with somebody and see it been done
you can do the dsc1 up the north which is a very informative course but you have to add in the time and cost of doing it

cookimonster

The HCAP is definitely no substitute for hands on experience and every day 'doing' is a learning day, but it is a very good base for factual information that can be misinterpreted or ignored by some more experienced stalkers.

These courses such as the HCAP and the Game Handlers course are built around self directed study / learning. You'll get out of it as much as you put in. Just think of it as a kin to the pre qualifier to the driving test- anyone can learn to operate a car but you still have to learn how to drive it on the road etc...

I'll be a hypocrite here and say that if you memorize the above list of questions you'll pass the multiple choice exam no problem but if you study the relavant theory you'll improve your knowledge no end. More importantly you'll have a good source of information to turn to if in doubt or are questioned on something that you know to be true.

sniperman

great advice as usual lads thanks alot,all comments taken on board,i think ill do the HCAP for my own sake,and will also look for someone to go along with to show me the ropes next season,in the mean time ill be learning a bit from the 223 that i just got,as its my first centerfire,then hopefully trade up for 243,thanks again lads,sound

viper123

sniperman wrote: »

great advice as usual lads thanks alot,all comments taken on board,i think ill do the HCAP for my own sake,and will also look for someone to go along with to show me the ropes next season,in the mean time ill be learning a bit from the 223 that i just got,as its my first centerfire,then hopefully trade up for 243,thanks again lads,sound

Just one more point on the HCAP you won't be able to to the target section of it with a 223 you'll need to have a deer legal caliber.

sniperman

viper123 wrote: »

Just one more point on the HCAP you won't be able to to the target section of it with a 223 you'll need to have a deer legal caliber.

right,thanks,i thought they would have one at the range that i would use,

Cass

The range only facilitates the testing by allowing use of the range and providing ROs. It does not run the HCAP. Plus you need the deer license and a deer legal rifle to get the deer license.

sniperman

asked for, and got, the application for licence to hunt deer form,and 3 separate landowner permission forms,on the land owners forms, the dates say for the 2016/2017 season,would they do for next season?whats the latest month this year i can send completed forms back? i will be selling/trading the 223 for 243,but dont want to do it yet,want the 223 for this summer,but if i have to ill trade up,...also would the mod i have on the 223 (hausken)fit the 243?i bought it new,and really like it,thanks lads.oh and how many deer would one be allowed to shoot on private land?

cookimonster

That application will only cover this season 16-17. You'll have to apply again for the 17-18 season with up-to-date land permissions. You'll have to wait until the NPWS issue the forth coming seasons applications. On your application you'll need to detail particulars of the firearm to be used.

There is no bag limit when shooting on private permissions, only seasonal restrictions and common sense.

Sika98k

Cass wrote: »

The range only facilitates the testing by allowing use of the range and providing ROs. It does not run the HCAP. Plus you need the deer license and a deer legal rifle to get the deer license.

What ?

Cass

Sika98k wrote: »

What ?

Not sure which bit you don't understand but i'll try to elaborate on it all.

Cass wrote: »

The range only facilitates the testing by allowing use of the range and providing ROs.

The MNSCI range is not the one that does the testing. That would be the Deer Alliance of Ireland. As they are an association and don't have a range they use the MNSCI as it's the biggest in the country with the ranges and calibre rating to accommodate the test.

It does not run the HCAP.

Pretty much the above. The MNSCI don't run the HCAP, only provide the facilities and ROs for safety reasons.

Plus you need the deer license and a deer legal rifle to get the deer license.

You'll need a deer legal rifle to do the test. From what i've seen, and on common sense, they won't let you do the shooting part of the test with a 223, 204 or any other non deer legal calibre.

To get such a rifle to do the test you generally need to have the deer license. That or if you already have one through range membership. However the range does not hire out deer legal rifles to do the test with. You are meant to turn up with your rifle zeroed, and be ready to shoot with whatever you use i the field.

I hope this explains it better, but if you're still unsure about any part of it feel free to ask, but please be specific as to what you don't understand.

allan450

when i done the hcap 2 or 3 lads turned up with no rifles and borrowed other rifles all was ok

Cass

What the Deer Alliance allow those being tested to do is up to them. If the rifles are unrestricted then by the Range SI they are allowed to let others to shoot them on a range. My point above is the range don't supply rifles for the test.