Body of evidence

Jon Snowdon responds to a reader’s question about the fitness of a carcass to be placed in the food chain and eaten

I have managed deer for more years than I care to mention and can say the majority of wild deer that I have shot have been fit and healthy and have given me no concerns about that meat going into the food chain. The salient point here is that every carcass has been inspected by me to ensure that is the case.

The European game hygiene legislation of 2004, which came into force in the UK in January 2006, lays down specific practice to ensure the food chain is not compromised and that the risk to public health when eating game is controlled. It states that anyone intending to put large game into the food chain should be ‘suitably knowledgeable’ to understand any abnormalities observed in a carcass that may prevent it being sold.

Qualification

To ensure this happened, the trained hunter qualification was introduced. At the time of its introduction it became an element of the DSC1 qualification. ‘Suitably knowledgeable’ does not mean expert; I would always say on a course that you should be suitably informed to be able to decide, “I don’t like the look of that.” If that were the case, then the hunter could either get a second opinion from someone more experienced, consult a friendly vet or contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Always have your kit prepared before heading out stalking