Harry, let's assume that this Roe doe was shot with a legal calibre deer rifle by a person with a valid FAC with a condition for deer on it. He could argue that he was unaware that he couldn't shoot deer at night or that there were seasons for Roe. He might even get away with it under the crop damage loophole that currently exists for shooting deer out of season. This may just end up with a caution and a re-education for him. Now then, if he had taken and passed the DSC 1 qualification, then there would be no excuse. He would/should know about deer seasons and night shooting. He would also know that the trained hunter exemption part of the large game handling section requires that if possible, the two sets of lymph glands in the head are inspected prior to a carcass entering the food chain. It's hard to achieve that with the head still attached! If we could make it that everyone who shoots deer has a baseline knowledge of what they are doing, then there could be no excuses for such behaviour.
Drinking and driving is illegal and everyone knows it. They have also had to pass both a theory and practical test to prove it! (DSC 1 & 2 ???). They therefore have no excuse when found guilty and should therefore expect to suffer the consequences.
My fear in this case is that the offending parties will claim naivety and get away lightly, whereas they could be hammered as a deterrant to others! Much of the problem in today's society is that there is no real deterrant anymore. Forcing such clowns to do some training may even prevent them from obtaining a FAC with a condition for deer in the first place. Why must we all continue to suffer the backlash and damage done to our 'trade' by idiots that have no idea what they are doing? Now I know that not all non DSC 1 holders fall into this bracket, but they should surely have nothing to fear by obtaining such qualification, if only to prevent such occurrances and therefore secure our future? We are under constant scrutiny from those that oppose what we do. Why make it easy by allowing fools to make us look bad?
MS