HCAP deer test

sixpointfive

Anybody done it? how hard is it?

bogteal

hope to do it in june myself got the hand book look ok would like to hear also.

CJhaughey

From some accounts it would appear that who you know is more important than what you know.
There have been some very experienced deer stalkers that have failed, and apparently the tranparency of the grading system is not the best.

Gerri

CJhaughey wrote:

From some accounts it would appear that who you know is more important than what you know.
There have been some very experienced deer stalkers that have failed, and apparently the tranparency of the grading system is not the best.

It's not necessarily about experience but how much time you give to reading the handbook, ALL the answers are in there. Those who failed probably did not read the book because they knew everything there is to know about deer stalking and deer management. Bet they were surpised to fail!!!

sixpointfive

A few people have told me that its very strict and some very good stalkers have failed but i just wanted to know if that was the case or just gossip. I have read the book and it is very good but like everything else there is no substitute for hands on experience, i have had a stalking licence since 2002 and have shot a fair few deer every season, not claiming to be an expert but would consider myself fairly handy at it and i have my test next wednesday and i think im going to FAIL:eek:

Vegeta

sixpointfive wrote:

i think im going to FAIL:eek:

Why?

If you have the book then you have everything you need to know or is it a case of it being a very big book with tons of possible questions

sixpointfive

No no, the book is not that big, i just find it hard to get the disease diagnosis and estimating the deer numbers, im going to read it a few more times and maybe something will sink in

Traumadoc

How would you go about applying for the test??

sixpointfive

here is form. at least i think i have attached it..

Clare gunner

Unless you are going to hunt on Coilte forests.I wouldnt be botherd...From what I hear it is a closed shop money spinner for somone.:mad:
Kind of intresting that in the first ever run of the test 25 applicants of a class of 23 FAIL with the same marks on the theory test.????

DJKH

Clare gunner wrote:

Unless you are going to hunt on Coilte forests.I wouldnt be botherd...From what I hear it is a closed shop money spinner for somone.:mad:
Kind of intresting that in the first ever run of the test 25 applicants of a class of 23 FAIL with the same marks on the theory test.????

Lads, Lads, lets not be throwing dirt at something that celarly the posters know little about.

I believe the concept of the HCAP is to provide a broad examination of deer management, deer stalking is not simply going out and shooting deer.

The manual is good, and given that you didn't go into the leaving cert without learning the course and being prepared the test is somewhat similar. You cannot waltz in with years of deer stalking experience and hope to pass the test.

The test is a multi choice test, so the answers are provided, you just need to make the right choice.

The Leinster Branch of the Deer Society ran a course in preparation for the HCAP about two years ago, which provided preparation for the test, not everyone who did the course passed the test, it does require a broad view of deer management.

The key is try and get your deer society to run a course, and if you are not in one of the deer societies then you should be.

The test covers all aspects of the manual.

The shooting test is not difficult but I was amazed at the number of "experienced" stalkers who had not even got their rifles zeroed for the 100 meter aspect of the test.

In summary, I enjoyed doing it, I needed to do the theory twice and I needed to re-shoot on the day because I put a shot over the deer sized target from 60 meters sitting! I'm not perfect either.

After the practical shooting exercise there is a short oral interview, common sense safety questions really!

In any case I passed it.

Worth doing as there are things to be learned at all times.

Regardless of shooting Caoilte land it proves competence, remember the new firearms legislation will require proof of competence!

Finally the same fail mark for the number of canidates, the policy I believe is once the theory is failed a common result is provided, maybe to save embarresment!

Do it, it is worth it, if even to test your marksmanship, you may be surprised!

Clare gunner

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I believe the concept of the HCAP is to provide a broad examination of deer management, deer stalking is not simply going out and shooting .

Indeed,but you are not going to learn it from a book either

The test is a multi choice test, so the answers are provided, you just need to make the right choice.

And do you get previous multi choice test papers to practise on ?Or is it just potluck as to what the examiners decide to write up on the day??
Is HCAP part of a semi state body, or a private concern? If no then there is no accountability as to what you can be asked.There should be five test papers and you are handed one of the five.Same as when you do your theory drivers test.On that point is HCAP subject to Freedom of Information law??As I would then like to see what qualifications the examiners/instructors have in their revelant fields that make them qualified to lecture,conduct shooting tests,or otherwise admin a course for a semi sate body.

Also I would like to know why HCAP has a monopoly on teaching and admining this course?And as to why twice as difficult EU countries hunting liscenses are not recognised by HCAP/Coilte? I would rate a German liscense or French lisence that takes five years go get in ALL aspects of hunting,worth more than ours.

In summary, I enjoyed doing it, I needed to do the theory twice and I needed to re-shoot on the day because I put a shot over the deer sized target from 60 meters sitting! I'm not perfect either.

Was this a target style deer or one with actual organ and bone outlines/picture underlays?Reason I am asking,is you would then learn more about shot placement and weather you had a clean kill or a injured animal to deal with.Deer dont generally have bullseyes on them.

Regardless of shooting Caoilte land it proves competence, remember the new firearms legislation will require proof of competence!

Errrr...NO! there is no requirement to prove any competance in any firearms legislation here in Ireland,past or future.This was put together on Coiltes demands regarding insurance risks and not much else.As Coilte isnt exactly up on deer management either,maybe they should do their own test?

Finally the same fail mark for the number of canidates, the policy I believe is once the theory is failed a common result is provided, maybe to save embarresment!

WTF!!! Sort of cockamaney is THAT??Either you pass somting or you fail it!If I fail somthing you want to know on what exactly and on where.Not be told I faild and was saved embarrassment,and very little else!! If this the sort of nonsense that is going to be done on a test I would seriously have doubts as its revelance or competance

Do it, it is worth it, if even to test your marksmanship, you may be surprised

!

Thanks but no thanks really.Unless there is alot more accountability,transperance and less closed shopedness.I'll stay away from Coilte shoots and HCAP.

sixpointfive

Hmmm, good points CG, i dont really NEED to do this just the lad i shoot with HAS to do it to get on a letting this season(another great monopoly), i have plenty of private ground to shoot FOC but im goin to give it a try, i will be very interested to see the outcome:rolleyes:

sixpointfive

did the test last night, i would say i failed, its harder than you think, im sure i got 35/37 of the 50 questions right but there were some very tricky questions that thew me, ah well, will know in two weeks

Clare gunner

Got any feed back for us on what types of questions? Was it a varied 5 or 6 page test or did you all get the same test page.
Am intrested.

sixpointfive

i think we all got the same,here is a couple of questions that tripped alot of lads up. "what is the minimum recommended bullet for deer stalking?"
"what is the season for fallow does in galway?"
"what is the minimum age for holding a deer stalking licence?"
"what breed/sex of deer whistles when alarmed?"

Sparks

Hmmm. ".243, the same as in Mayo, as soon as you can close your fingers but you can't apply for a licence until much later, and haven't a clue".

I guess it's a good thing I don't want to hunt

sixpointfive

they are the easy ones, some tricky f@~kers of questions in it sir.

jaycee

1: 240, with 100 grain bullet and 1900 foot-pounds of energy at muzzle is the minimum recommended , the legal minimum is 22.250.

2: Does of any species may be shot from November 1 to February 28 each year.

3:The minimum age is 16 .

4: Sika stags whistle when alarmed or in rut.

Clare gunner

Way to Go ..Jaycee!:D
Dont muntjac whistle as well,or do they bark??Not that we have any here..

jaycee

Clare gunner wrote:

Way to Go ..Jaycee!:D
Dont muntjac whistle as well,or do they bark??Not that we have any here..

Not sure CG,

Something I've always thought of as odd though is that a 22.250 is legal to shoot deer but not a .220 Swift .

The 22-250 using a 60 Gr bullet @3600 fps has a muzzle energy of 1726ft-lbs
exactly the same as a Swift using a 60 gr bullet ... go figure !

For comparison the "deadly" .223 using a 75gr pill @ 2790 MV generates only 1296Ft-Lbs

(figures from the Hornady website)

Vegeta

jaycee wrote:

Not sure CG,

Something I've always thought of as odd though is that a 22.250 is legal to shoot deer but not a .220 Swift .

The 22-250 using a 60 Gr bullet @3600 fps has a muzzle energy of 1726ft-lbs
exactly the same as a Swift using a 60 gr bullet ... go figure !

For comparison the "deadly" .223 using a 75gr pill @ 2790 MV generates only 1296Ft-Lbs

(figures from the Hornady website)

Which is exactly why the proposed restricted list is dumb beyond belief

sixpointfive

allegedly sika stags only whistle in the rut, sika does whistle when alarmed, or so they say, i would have thought prickets and stags whistle when alarmed, also i thought fallow does were in till end of feb but some lad told me i was wrong they only in till end of jan, suppose i really should have done my homework