Futher to our last update in June, we have been in communication with the Department in recent days and they have confirmed 1. not everyone who submitted their application by the June 30th deadline will have their licence by September 1st. 2. Those who have submitted applications prior to June 1st will have their applications prior to September 1st.
This is not a situation anyone is happy with and we have highlighted that members will have booked annual leave and incurred considerable expense but we are in exceptional times. As per the posts shared here recently from NPWS they are also trying to work in difficult circumstances.
If any Irish Deer Commission member who submitted a renewal application before June 1st hasn’t received their licence by August 24th they can contact us by the usual email address and we will include them in our list to the Department of licenses to issue.
THIS OPTION IS OPEN TO CURRENT IRISH DEER COMMISSION MEMBERS ONLY AND NOT A GUARANTEE YOU WILL HAVE YOUR LICENCE BY SEPTEMBER 1st.
If you are not a member, details of our membership are available on this website.
Ends
Applications for Deer Hunting Licences are considered under Section 29(1) of the Wildlife Act 1976 to 2018. Licences are issued on an annual basis from early August, but not before, as the licensing season does not start until 1st September.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service have confirmed to the Irish Deer Commission while their preference is postal applications, they will accept both post and email deer hunting licence applications. There is no requirement to post applications already emailed.
To ensure your Deer Hunting Licence is processed in tome for the 2020/21 open season, applications should be received no later than June 30th, 2020.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, no deer hunting licence application forms will be posted to applicants, unless specifically requested.
Wild deer open season dates for 2020/2021 are available here.
Changes To The Application Process Due to Covid-19 Government Guidelines
Application packs will not be sent by post to those hunters who held a licence for the 2019/2020 deer hunting season at this stage due to the impact of Covid-19 on the operation of the Wildlife Licensing Unit. However, the Department will keep the matter under review. You are advised to make an application for the new season as soon as possible, but well before the end of June 2020.
Following discussions with the Irish Deer Commission the Department of Heritage, Culture and the Gaeltacht have confirmed that given the current circumstances the Department will accept previous season’s (2019/20) landowner permissions form for renewing applicants. Applicants should include a note with their applications to the effect that he/she has made contact with the landowner in question and has given permission for the 2020/21 season.
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 (42 hectare) requirement does not apply. New applicants, should submit applications with unsigned landowner forms with details of the landowner and the lands in question and undertake to submit a signed landowner permission form at a later date, it will assist local Department staff in examining the applications.
The 2020/2021 Deer Hunting Circular, application form, guidance note and landowner permission form can be downloaded or, alternatively, copies of the documents can be posted to you by emailing wildlifelicence@chg.gov.ie or by contacting:
Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht,
National Parks and Wildlife Service,
Wildlife Licensing Unit,
90 North King Street,
Dublin 7
D07 N7CV
Email: wildlifelicence@chg.gov.ie
Irish Deer Commission members, can email info@irishdeercommission.ie if they require assistance or have further queries.