VICTORIANS continue to support the fox and wild dog bounty with more than $1.3 million paid out under the State Government's program.

Up until the end of last month, 133,414 fox scalps and 430 wild dog pelts had been cashed in.

Major regional centres Bendigo, Ballarat, Hamilton and Horsham recorded the highest number of fox scalps.

Bairnsdale recorded the most wild dog skins, with 167 scalps handed in since the bounty began in October 2011.

At the one-year mark, 117,000 scalps had been delivered to government depots.

Despite the high numbers, scientists have continued to criticise spending and the effectiveness of the bounty, claiming money could be better spent on more strategic and scientifically proven programs.

Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh this week said the bounty was a key election commitment that had received an "overwhelming response" from farmers and hunters.

He said the latest collection figures showed the bounty continued to play "an important role in the Government's integrated approach to fox and wild dog control, in combination with other control methods such as trapping and ground baiting".

In addition to the devastation foxes cause to native fauna, it is estimated that wild dogs and foxes cost the state's agricultural industry at least $40 million a year.

To keep administration costs low, Mr Walsh said bounty collections would be suspended until February 28.

"This won't restrict hunters' ability to continue hunting, as they can still hunt and collect eligible fox and wild dog body parts," he said.

Gippsland centres were receiving lower numbers than other areas of the state, so collections would be reduced to every eight weeks instead of every four weeks.

"These changes are all about operating the bounty as efficiently and effectively as possible," Mr Walsh said.