Hunting

Noonan targets deer hunters with stringent new regulations

New entrants must undergo a training course to learn ‘humane’ shooting methods before being granted a hunting licence

Malcolm Noonan, Minister of State for Heritage: new rules require deer hunters to undergo a training course before they are issued with a licence.Picture: Dylan Vaughan

Deer hunters will be required to undertake a two-day training course and prove they can hit a four-inch target from 100 metres before being granted licences under new government rules.

Malcolm Noonan, the Green Party Minister of State for Heritage, has made it mandatory for new deer hunters to learn about “humane” shooting methods in a new training course.

The demand for an official deer-stalking course has come from deer hunters themselves, due to concerns ...