Wild dog scalps doubled

http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2013/07/31/578185_national-news.html

Hot shot: Broadford's Alicia Kurtz has shot 1165 foxes since the Victorian Government introduced the bounty in October 2011. Picture: Greg Scullin

EXCLUSIVE: THE number of wild dog pelts handed in to the Victorian Government has almost doubled since January.

In January the bounty increased from $50 to $100. Since, the number of fox scalps has also jumped by almost 50,000 since April to 200,064.

At the start of the year, 430 wild dog pelts had been handed in, but the latest figures reveal 793 wild dogs pelts have now been received.

Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh said he was "very happy" with the figures.

"I think it proves that the increase in bounty that we did from $50 to $100 has given that added incentive for people going to hunt them," Mr Walsh said.

Ballarat and Bendigo remain the areas where most fox scalps have been handed in, with 27,317 and 29,652 scalps respectively.

Bairnsdale has received the largest number of wild-dog pelts, with 360.

Broadford teenager Alicia Kutz is one of thousands of hunters cashing in on the bounty since its inception in October 2011.

She has presented 1165 fox scalps for a reward of $11,650

The 16-year-old is saving the bounty money to buy her first car.

Alicia said she and her father would often go spotlighting several nights a week.

"I started at age 10 just holding the spotlight and opening the gates and then I started actually shooting at age 12 and have done it ever since," she said.

"I've got 344 (scalps) this year and Dad and I together ... 636."