Today’s Victorian State Budget has locked in $2.2 million to continue the Victorian Fox Bounty through to 30 June 2027, a clear vote of confidence in a program that delivers real, on-ground results.
The Fox Bounty is a simple idea that works; it supports and incentivises recreational hunters to target one of Victoria’s most destructive pest species. In doing so, it harnesses thousands of hours of voluntary effort across the state, from farmland to public land, delivering tangible benefits for both agriculture and the environment.
Foxes remain a major threat to livestock, particularly lambs, and to native wildlife, including ground-nesting birds and small mammals. Reducing their numbers requires practical, ongoing work by people in the field. That’s exactly what the bounty supports.
Since its inception, the program has seen hundreds of thousands of fox scalps submitted, representing a significant and sustained control effort that would be difficult and costly for the government alone to replicate.
SSAA Victoria has long supported the Fox Bounty and, more broadly, the role of recreational hunters as an essential part of Victoria’s wildlife management framework. Programs like this recognise what has been evident for decades: engaged, licensed hunters are not just participants in the system – they are one of its most effective tools.
SSAA Victoria Hunting Development Manager David Laird said the program continues to demonstrate the value of working with the hunting community.
“The Fox Bounty is a proven, practical program that backs in the people already doing the work on the ground,” Mr Laird said.
“Recreational hunters contribute thousands of hours each year managing pest and problem animals right across Victoria, often in places and at times where other control methods can’t reach. This program supports that effort and amplifies its impact.
“We commend the Victorian Government for continuing to invest in a model that delivers real environmental and agricultural outcomes. It’s a smart, cost-effective approach that recognises the role hunters play as part of the broader wildlife management system.”
Importantly, the bounty complements other control measures. It doesn’t replace coordinated pest management programs; it strengthens them by adding scale, reach and local knowledge. It ensures that control efforts are not confined to short-term programs or limited geographies but continue consistently across the landscape.
The continuation of the Fox Bounty sends a strong signal that practical, evidence-based approaches to pest animal management matter. It also reflects an understanding that working with the hunting community delivers outcomes that benefit all Victorians – from farmers managing stock losses to conservation efforts protecting vulnerable native species.
We welcome the Government’s decision to extend funding for this long-running and important program and look forward to seeing it continue to deliver results where they matter most – in the field.
