The first collections were taken at Horsham on Wednesday, with further monthly collection days scheduled until October. 

Agriculture Victoria's John Matthews said he expected larger numbers of scalps to be handed in over the first few months of collections due to people stockpiling throughout summer.

“Eligible participants can submit entire fox scalps for a $10 reward and entire wild dog skin pieces for a $120 reward during scheduled collection times,” he said.

​A spokesperson for Agriculture Victoria said reports of fox sightings typically tended to spike at this time of the year, as young naive foxes were displaced from their territories and juvenile foxes were on their own, no longer supported by the family group.

“They are commonly observed during day or night searching for food, shelter and a new territory,” the spokesperson said.

The next Wimmera collection for fox scalps will be in Horsham on April 5 and St Arnaud on April 6.