Fox and wild dog bounty resumes

COLLECTION teams will be back on the road from this month with the resumption of the Victorian Fox and Wild Dog Bounty.

Agriculture Victoria’s John Matthews said collections will start on Monday March 5, starting with north-west collection centres.

“The collection period for the fox and wild dog bounty will run from March until the end of October, consistent with previous years.

“Eligible participants can submit entire fox scalps for a $10 reward and entire wild dog skin pieces for a $120 reward during scheduled collection times,” Mr Matthews said.

Mr Matthews urged hunters to check collection centre times, as there are a number of minor scheduling changes for 2018 due to public holidays and a change of venue at Geelong.

He also reminded hunters the collection of entire wild dog skin pieces for the North West Wild Dog Control Area is by appointment only.

Appointments can be made by calling the Agriculture Victoria Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

“We are expecting larger numbers of scalps and wild dog skin pieces over the first few months of collections due to the stockpiling of body parts over summer and early autumn and a peak in fox hunting activity as young, vulnerable and displaced juvenile foxes move around the landscape.”

The yearly average for the bounty is now 98,413 fox scalps and 535 wild dog skin pieces.

Total subscriptions to the bounty now exceed 618,000 fox scalps and 2,675 wild dog skin pieces since it’s commencement in 2011.

For full details on collection times and locations, terms and conditions, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/bounty or call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186.