FOX numbers are out of control and biting into lamb producers' optimism of cashing in on a strong market.
A positive market outlook following the autumn break had producers across the state smiling, but foxes have started to lay waste to young, vulnerable stock.
Local Land Services (LLS) biosecurity rangers have backed farmers' claims fox numbers were sky high, while professional shooters said they were killing them in unprecedented numbers.
Hunter and owner of Riverina Hunting and Fishing, Glen Castellaro, Griffith, shot 1130 foxes for the year in 2014, but recently shot 650 foxes in 18 nights.
"The best night we had we shot 88 and the following weekend we returned to the same place and shot 84," Mr Castellaro said.
Around Glen Innes, fox hunter Ron Kiehne shoots on more than 60 properties and has had numerous requests from landholders for his services.
"I shoot between 300 and 400 foxes a year and have had calls recently from guys saying the foxes are so bad they're coming into their backyards."
The population, which was spurred on by the good season, is wreaking havoc from Gowrie to Wentworth.
Phil Gamble, "Boowillia", Gowrie near Tamworth, laid hundreds of 1080 baits a month before lambing in April but later found about 20 per cent of his lambs lost to foxes.
"We have about 1300 Merino ewes and we had 100pc scanned in lamb but when we bought them in for marking it was clear the foxes had been at them," he said.
NSW Farmers Griffith District Council chairwoman Helen Dalton, "West Merribee", Binya, sustained significant fox damage to her flock of 400 Dorper/Poll Dorset lambs.
"It's clear to see a lot have been taken by foxes, particularly the ewes which had twins or triplets," Mrs Dalton said.
"We had a 150 per cent lambing rate and I know I only got two thirds of those lambs at marking."
Mrs Dalton chose not to bait this year, instead opting to pay for the ammunition of professional shooters.
In the state's far south west, producer Angus Whyte, Wyndham Station, Wentworth, teamed up with neighbours and engaged professional shooters ahead of lambing.
The shooters cleaned up 150 foxes across 50,000 hectares within a couple of days.
A fortnight earlier they had 100.
With more than 3000 lambs expected by the end of July, Mr Whyte said it was a reality check.
"It caught us unaware and made us realise we need to be more diligent and get onto them," he said.
LLS Riverina biosecurity manager Ray Willis said while increased rabbit populations were fuelling the foxes, the reticence of some farmers to control them was also to blame.
The European red fox became a declared pest late last year, requiring landholders to take reasonable steps to suppress foxes on their land.
However, farmers told The Land not all landholders routinely pulled their weight.
"It's difficult to get a co-ordinated approach going because for many farmers, foxes don't impact on their livelihood," Mrs Dalton said.
VisitPest Smart for fox control information.