While howling on property east of Tenterfield at 8am last Saturday morning shooter and trapper Brian Campion expected one dog to appear not an aggressive pack of five which charged at his kelpie cross.

"As soon as they spotted him they went as fast as they could and the alpha male and female came amazingly close for wild dogs," he said.

Mr Campion rose from behind the rock and shot the wild dogs bringing his total up to seven dogs caught over five days and within a 300 acre proximity.

Of the seven wild dogs pictured above, six were shot and one trapped on Berridge's property 'Athlyne'. Other dogs have been shot and trapped at the Jeffrey property ‘Isla' and Hurley property ‘Swamp Acres'.

The ongoing problems of stock losses are a great concern to all landholders - not only the killings but the continual rounding up of stock.

Landholder, Brian Berridge informed the Tenterfield Star about Mr Campion's recent efforts. National Parks Pest Management Officer Stuart Boyd-Law, who is based in Glen Innes, said the success of professional wild dog shooter and trapper Mr Campion bodes well for landholders like the Berridges.

"Where the dogs were caught is approximately 12km in any direction from a National Park and was not part of the wild dog baiting program. It was good of Brian to go down and tackle those dogs," Mr Boyd-Law said.

A meeting of landowners was held at the Rural Lands Protection Board was held in cooperation with the National Parks and Wildlife Service to discuss their future involvement in the long running baiting program. Board Ranger Brent Petrie said that 25 landholders had signed up for the March baiting program.

"We are trying to get even more co-operative baiting in the area," he said.

Due to decreased baiting over years wild dog numbers have risen. The program will begin with baits at Steinbrook, Sandy Flat, on the eastern side and in National Parks.

"The western side has been pretty quiet in recent years," Mr Petrie said.

National Parks will employ the professional wild dog shooter and trapper Brian Campion for two to three months to control wild dogs in the Tenterfield area.

"A lot of people say howling and shooting is not affective but in the mating season (March April, May) its hell of a lot easier to howl them in," Mr Campion said.

Ranger Brent Petrie believes anything like howling which aids the baiting program is welcomed.

Mr Campion sets out in the early morning.

"Sometimes it can take hours but on Saturday it only took an hour," he said.

According to Vice Chair of the RLPB, Terry O'Sullivan, five of the dogs caught were female.

"It was a good roundup. You can imagine what would happen, when they are that well fed - there could have been another five litters," he said.

Of the seven large dogs caught, one was a black alpha male.

"A cross with an Alsatian by the look of him," Mr O'Sullivan said, whereas the others look like dingoes.

Mr Campion agreed, saying of the dogs caught quiet a few would have a fair percentage of domestic dog in them.

"They were the most aggressive I have seen, especially the alpha male," he said.

Whilst there have been other trappers in the area and wild dog baiting programs none have been as successful as this.

Landholder Derek Rolph and other neighbours were happy to have three wild dogs caught after hiring the services of Mr Campion eight months ago.

"We were fortunate enough that only five or six (stock) were killed - it could have been a lot more if we hadn't got on to it. It can be a very distressing time to find stock killed and others with their insides hanging out," Mr Rolph said.