BALLOTED hunting for hog deer will not happen on Snake Island in Gippsland.

Victoria agriculture minister Peter Walsh today made the announcement that the proposal from the Victorian Hunting Advisory Committee to allow a balloted hunt of hog deer on the island during June and July – using four groups of six shooters – would not go ahead.

"I asked my Parliamentary Secretary for Primary Industries Bill Sykes to investigate the legitimacy of the proposal and he found a large percentage of the local community, recreational island users and cattle grazers were strongly against the idea," Mr Walsh said in a statement.

"At a public meeting in Welshpool to discuss the proposal, a significantly high proportion of attendees were against hunting on the island. They felt it would deter visitors and risk public safety.

"Tourism plays a huge role in supporting the economy of the area, with Snake Island attracting thousands of kayakers, horse riders and recreational fishers each year."