THE Victorian Government has doubled its wild dog bounty to $100.

Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh said the move recognised the devastating impact wild dogs had on livestock and the significance of the problems they caused for farmers, particularly in the North East and Gippsland.

"The vicious and extremely difficult to hunt pests prey on vulnerable livestock, particularly newborn lambs and calves, wandering mostly North East Victoria and Gippsland in search of their next meal,” Mr Walsh said.

“It is not only a financial burden but also a trauma for farmers to find their animals suffering, or killed, from a wild dog attack. Wild dogs also prey on native animals, particularly around National Parks.

“The Coalition Government wants to provide additional incentives for hunters to get out and help reduce wild dog numbers, and to recognise the time and skill involved in shooting the cunning pests."

The Government’s four-year $4 million bounty on foxes and wild dogs was introduced in October 2011 and has seen 430 wild dog pelts and more than 133,000 fox scalps handed in so far.

The increased wild dog bounty will begin when collections resume in March.