Here's an idea for better reporting from the state of Illinois. It's been in effect for two years and seems to be working very well. You tag your deer just like always but by 10PM on the day of the harvest (or recovery) you must call in to an automated system and get a confirmation number. Processors, taxidermists etc dont dare touch the deer without that confirmation number and your tag is invalid if it doesnt have that number on the next day.

I'm sure that it's not 100% but it works a whole lot better than our system.