We all know that any deer carcase or for that matter Wild Boar carcase if presented to a game dealer or butchery should have a legal tag on it with your hunters number on it which you are given on attaining your Level 1.
This is to show accountability and traceability through the system of venison from stalker to the plate of the consumer.
Malc, I don't think the DSC1 Trained Hunter system is fit for purpose.
The "Trained Hunter" status is awarded based on a rather easy multiple choice test, no practical experience is required, the only gland, or even deer, that said "hunter" may have seen might have been as shown on a DVD during the course.
When I passed my DSC1 with BDS I was dismayed to discover that the only record of my hunter status was the DSC1 paper certificate from DMQ, it wasn't even clear that the number on this was also my hunter number.
The certificate makes no mention of "Trained Hunter", it only states "
Large Game Meat Hygiene ... supply of large game to approved game handling establishments" which I don't think is quite the same thing. A Trained Hunter is not restricted to only supplying AGHEs.
I was expecting to receive something more official, which I could show to anyone who needed to see it, stating in laymans terms exactly what I was allowed to supply and to whom.
I've since met a member who did his DSC1 with I think NGO, and was awarded a credit card sized plastic certificate with his details, which seemed a slightly better solution.
Once awarded there does not seem to be any mechanism for tracing the hunter. I am not required to keep DMQ updated with any change of address, phone number, email details etc. In fact I would not know how to do so, even if I wanted to.
Even if I provided a butcher, pub, restaurant etc. with a copy of my certificate, for their records, there is no information on it which would show how my identity could be verified, e.g. a 'phone number to call where my registration details could be checked.
The deer tag format does not provide any backwards traceability information, e.g. there is no requirement for a unique serial number that links the tag with my cull records, that is if I keep any at-all. Neither is there any contact information required, e.g. postcode.
Anybody could impersonate me and fill out a fraudulent tag with my details, once they have sight of my Hunter Number, indeed I have heard of exactly this happening.
To be credible there needs to be:
1) An online database of all trained hunters, who should be required to verify their contact details at least annually, otherwise registration is suspended until done.
2) Database to be searchable by anyone who wishes, i.e. enter surname, initials, postcode, hunter number. Search results to state whether hunter is currently registered or not. A hunter would only provide these details to a potential customer, if asked. Otherwise the system I propose for the tag would be sufficient to confirm the hunter is genuine, in anonymity.
3) Database to be securely accessible by each trained hunter, who can be issued a block of unique tag serial codes. Hunter to write one such code on each tag. When tag is attached to deer, hunter required to register that the tag code has been issued, including date. Tag code registration to be made as simple as possible, e.g. by text message, email etc.
4) Database to be searchable by anyone who wishes, e.g. customers. Enter hunter number, tag code, tag date. Search results to state whether tag is valid, hunter is currently registered, and to issue a verification code confirming the check has been made. Search to be as simple as possible, e.g. website, text message, email etc.
5) Database to be searchable by approved authorities. Enter tag code, verification code, date of verification. Result to confirm that verification was done when stated. Approved authorities also able to access contact details of the hunter who issued the tag.
6) Severe penalties for any pub, butcher AGHE etc. found in possession of untagged carcasses, or selling processed venison without traceability back to a valid tag, and a record of a verification code having been obtained.
Without some sort of system like this, I think that deer tags are barely worth the paper they are printed on, e.g. 10p each from the BDS, or less if you make your own.