Pack goat rental

[DRDANTDC]

Does anyone know of any pack goat rentals in Washington?

[lewy]

What's the matter Dan, get'n a little to old for the high hunt

[jackelope]

Does anyone know of any pack goat rentals in Washington?

You could contact these guys and see if they know of anyone.
http://www.northwestpackgoats.com/

I've never seen anyone who does. Actionshooter or AlpineGus might know of someone also.

[MLHSN]

On that note, I've been wondering, how fast can pack goats sustainably hike? 

I remember reading that you are not suppose to go faster then 30-40 min. per mile with llamas.  That's a little slow for me.  I think I might get kind of impatient.  I was wondering what a reasonable pace is like for pack goats?  How far can they go in a day?

[jackelope]

5-10 miles a day. Nice thing about goats is you don't have to bring food for them and they can go for extended periods without water. They can't hike all day and are not for everyone.

[MLHSN]

Is the 5-10 miles loaded with gear?  I could handle 5-10 miles on the way out with game meat.  But I could get impatient on the way in going 5 miles with no weight.  I'm just curious. Trying to figure out the logistics. What speed do you think they go?

[actionshooter]

Is the 5-10 miles loaded with gear?  I could handle 5-10 miles on the way out with game meat.  But I could get impatient on the way in going 5 miles with no weight.  I'm just curious. Trying to figure out the logistics. What speed do you think they go?

They have about the same MPH as your average hiker, that was a small problem for me. I tend to be a fast hiker. If you keep the load to about 30# and the goats are in shape I have done over 12 miles in a day. If you are impatient the goats aren't for you. 10 miles with the goats loaded 45+, 10 miles is a LONG way.
Goats are great, but they do have limitations.

[ghosthunter]

Seems like ther was a member on here with pack goats, because I thought about it after reading his post.

[actionshooter]

Oh----and I don't know anyone who rents goats in Wa. I would never rent mine, if you haven't worked with them its hard. It would be like giving someone a horse who has never benn on one.

[MLHSN]

I'd be interested in hiking with someone who has pack goats for a day or two(I'll carry my own gear).  I'm just curious what it's like having goats along.  If anyone is in central WA with pack goats and doesn't mind a tag-along for a day this June/July let me know. 

I've seen a few threads of people who hike with them and I've always been curious.

[NoImpactNoIdea]

I'd be interested in hiking with someone who has pack goats for a day or two(I'll carry my own gear).  I'm just curious what it's like having goats along.  If anyone is in central WA with pack goats and doesn't mind a tag-along for a day this June/July let me know. 

I've seen a few threads of people who hike with them and I've always been curious.

This is what I was thinking.  It seems more like you would need a guide with goats...or shepard or whatever the correct term is.  I dont know that I would feel comfortable leaving them tied to a tree while I was off hunting.  I would definately get the extra insurance on that rental!!

[timberghost72]

I'd be interested in hiking with someone who has pack goats for a day or two(I'll carry my own gear).  I'm just curious what it's like having goats along.  If anyone is in central WA with pack goats and doesn't mind a tag-along for a day this June/July let me know. 

I've seen a few threads of people who hike with them and I've always been curious.

Thats a good idea. My wife and I have been talking about getting some goats for about a year now and have been reading up on them but a trip out with them would be a good idea. There are some good books out there to learn up on them.  My daughter is 4 so getting her into 4H and backpacking now would be fun. Definately be nice on a backcountry hunt too since I can't carry more than 50 lbs.

Jackalope has a good website there. Here are a couple more if interested.
http://www.highuintapackgoats.com/
http://home.comcast.net/~edelweissacres/

[actionshooter]

I'd be interested in hiking with someone who has pack goats for a day or two(I'll carry my own gear).  I'm just curious what it's like having goats along.  If anyone is in central WA with pack goats and doesn't mind a tag-along for a day this June/July let me know. 

I've seen a few threads of people who hike with them and I've always been curious.

Thats a good idea. My wife and I have been talking about getting some goats for about a year now and have been reading up on them but a trip out with them would be a good idea. There are some good books out there to learn up on them.  My daughter is 4 so getting her into 4H and backpacking now would be fun. Definately be nice on a backcountry hunt too since I can't carry more than 50 lbs.

Jackalope has a good website there. Here are a couple more if interested.
http://www.highuintapackgoats.com/
http://home.comcast.net/~edelweissacres/

Your 2nd link, edelweissacres, is a great resource, Donna (the owner) does a great class on goat health and pretty much anything you would need to get started.
 They are out of Olympia, near Cabelas.
 I would recommend that one for anyone thinking about getting into goats.

[acnewman55]

Is the 5-10 miles loaded with gear?  I could handle 5-10 miles on the way out with game meat.  But I could get impatient on the way in going 5 miles with no weight.  I'm just curious. Trying to figure out the logistics. What speed do you think they go?

Could you pack the pack-goats in on pack-mules to cut down on time spent hiking in? 

[MLHSN]

Is the 5-10 miles loaded with gear?  I could handle 5-10 miles on the way out with game meat.  But I could get impatient on the way in going 5 miles with no weight.  I'm just curious. Trying to figure out the logistics. What speed do you think they go?

Could you pack the pack-goats in on pack-mules to cut down on time spent hiking in? 

That way, you can ride the mule out and put the meat on the packgoat.

[acnewman55]

Is the 5-10 miles loaded with gear?  I could handle 5-10 miles on the way out with game meat.  But I could get impatient on the way in going 5 miles with no weight.  I'm just curious. Trying to figure out the logistics. What speed do you think they go?

Could you pack the pack-goats in on pack-mules to cut down on time spent hiking in? 

That way, you can ride the mule out and put the meat on the packgoat.

Or if the hunt doesn't go your way you can chop up the mule and pack it out on the goats.  That way the hunters you pass on the hike out won't know your shame.

[RG]

Is the 5-10 miles loaded with gear?  I could handle 5-10 miles on the way out with game meat.  But I could get impatient on the way in going 5 miles with no weight.  I'm just curious. Trying to figure out the logistics. What speed do you think they go?

Could you pack the pack-goats in on pack-mules to cut down on time spent hiking in? 

That way, you can ride the mule out and put the meat on the packgoat.

Or if the hunt doesn't go your way you can chop up the mule and pack it out on the goats.  That way the hunters you pass on the hike out won't know your shame.

Eat the goats and ride the mule.

[BenC567]

Did you ever find a pack goat rental place?  I've been using this thread as a resource but have not come up with anything.

Anyone with a pack goat willing to let me rent their goat?  I am a former horseback guide and have worked with goats but never packed with them.

Thanks,

Ben

[RG]

I wouldn't admit the former horseback guide part on a goat rental thread.  Goats?  I guess you can roast them up over the fire if you run out of food since they don't pack much.

[JimmyHoffa]

There are also llama and al-paca places that will pack in gear, kind of the in between of mules and goats.

[jackelope]

I wouldn't admit the former horseback guide part on a goat rental thread.  Goats?  I guess you can roast them up over the fire if you run out of food since they don't pack much.

About 50 pounds a piece. How much do you need. They'll go places no horse or mule will go.

[lagnar]

ahhh...the price on the pack Goats go up depending how cute they are right?

-honest officer I was just pushing that sheep thru the fence... 

-if you string a few goats up in the high country, isn't that considered "Baiting" for bears?

Just get one mule.

[BenC567]

Do you know the name of the llama rental place?  Any help would be great!

Mules don't fit in the bed of my truck.

[snowpack]

Maybe try Backcountry Horsemen of Washington.  They have members with about anything that packs--horse, mule, llama and goat.  I see their members using goats to pack gravel and tools up into the alpine.  They might be able to give you contacts.

[jackelope]

Try this site.

http://www.northwestpackgoats.com/

[RG]

I wouldn't admit the former horseback guide part on a goat rental thread.  Goats?  I guess you can roast them up over the fire if you run out of food since they don't pack much.

About 50 pounds a piece. How much do you need. They'll go places no horse or mule will go.

my tent weighs 50 pounds and I can still take the rest of my gear and eat steak. I don't have to be embarrassed when people pass me on the trail.  Really I don't care if you pack goats, I just can't help myself.  Of course guys I ride with call llamas Peruvian Camels too.  Whatever gets you there!

[jackelope]

I wouldn't admit the former horseback guide part on a goat rental thread.  Goats?  I guess you can roast them up over the fire if you run out of food since they don't pack much.

About 50 pounds a piece. How much do you need. They'll go places no horse or mule will go.

my tent weighs 50 pounds and I can still take the rest of my gear and eat steak. I don't have to be embarrassed when people pass me on the trail.  Really I don't care if you pack goats, I just can't help myself.  Of course guys I ride with call llamas Peruvian Camels too.  Whatever gets you there!

Ok. My tent weighs 3 pounds. That's why I was wondering. I don't pack goats. I also don't know what anyone would have to be embarrassed about.

[snowpack]

I see goats in the backcountry mostly in the winter.  The bc snowboarders and skiers use them to haul in stuff.  The goats can jump up on downed trees, walk across the log bridges the FS builds and do well on the ice and the narrow ridge trails.  I talked to some of those guys and they said they got the goats in Olympia.

[Cougar125]

When I was in ID on leave, they had some Toggenbergs go through the livestock auction with all their pack gear.  Had I seen this thread before, I would've bought them.  I know the livestock side of it, but would've had to learn the goat packing part of it.

[BenC567]

I'll give them both a try. I'll let you all know how it goes for future reference.

[RG]

I see some dogs carrying pretty good size packs around too

[sirmissalot]

Goats can go places a person wouldn't dare take a mule. They require very little water, basically no feed, and fit into a pickup truck bed. There is nothing embarrassing about using pack goats... Unless it are using them for other recreational activities after the hunt... To each their own.

[75johndeere]

I doubt you will find anyone to rent goats from they can be a handful even after you figure everything out. Granted my goats aren't the best trained but I wouldn't rent them to anyone. Last year we pushed them in 13 miles in one day and the last 2-3 we damn near needed to drag two of them they where done and only packing 20-25 pounds each. They will scare the crap out of you in nasty terrain they have a need to crawl out to the edge of every point with a 500-600 foot drop and they tend to forget there wearing a pack not allowing them to climb on the cliffs. They do cross log bridges decently but again they forget there wearing a pack we had one tumble 15' into a river because the pack caught a rail post. If you have any questions feel free to pm me

[acnewman55]

There is nothing embarrassing about using pack goats... Unless it are using them for other recreational activities after the hunt... To each their own.

 

[vandeman17]

What about those fainting goats? Then if the hunting is slow you can sneak up on them, pretend to shoot and yell "BANG" and when they fall over, you will feel like you killed something. 

[RadSav]

What about those fainting goats? Then if the hunting is slow you can sneak up on them, pretend to shoot and yell "BANG" and when they fall over, you will feel like you killed something. 

That would be awesome for predator calling bear in the back country.  Get a bears attention from a distance.  Blow on the predator call and have the goat fall over.  What bear could resist that   Although, how many times during a five mile hike do you think they would get spooked and fall over in the trail?   Might take a while to get where you are going.

[vandeman17]

What about those fainting goats? Then if the hunting is slow you can sneak up on them, pretend to shoot and yell "BANG" and when they fall over, you will feel like you killed something. 

That would be awesome for predator calling bear in the back country.  Get a bears attention from a distance.  Blow on the predator call and have the goat fall over.  What bear could resist that   Although, how many times during a five mile hike do you think they would get spooked and fall over in the trail?   Might take a while to get where you are going.

Another great idea. I don't think it could be considered baiting if the animal is still alive.  I have always said that if I get some land I will buy a few of those goats. If I am having a bad day I would just scare one and it would make me smile every time.

[MuleySniper]

50# is pushing it for a pack goat... It all looks good on paper but you need 4 or 5 of those suckers to make it worth it. My dad had three... You need to use them often to keep them in shape. If it's something you plan to use once or twice a year it's not worth it IMO.
MS

[actionshooter]

50# is pushing it for a pack goat... It all looks good on paper but you need 4 or 5 of those suckers to make it worth it. My dad had three... You need to use them often to keep them in shape. If it's something you plan to use once or twice a year it's not worth it IMO.
MS

I agree, I always have tried to run 4..... I have had goats that will do 50# but I always try to keep them at 40# and less unless its a short distance.

[KFhunter]

What about those fainting goats? Then if the hunting is slow you can sneak up on them, pretend to shoot and yell "BANG" and when they fall over, you will feel like you killed something. 

That would be awesome for predator calling bear in the back country.  Get a bears attention from a distance.  Blow on the predator call and have the goat fall over.  What bear could resist that   Although, how many times during a five mile hike do you think they would get spooked and fall over in the trail?   Might take a while to get where you are going.

blindfold them until you get where your going?   

[MLHSN]

Hey Actionshooter, How many pack goats could one person handle?  I do a lot of solo trips.  Just curious. 

[actionshooter]

Goats are herd animals and they like to hang together and if they are bonded well to you they wont wander to far from ya.  4 isn't any problem at all and I think 6 would be do-able. It depends more on the goats than the person.

 How ya doing this season?? Finding any critters?

[MLHSN]

It's been rough,  I put hundreds of miles in.  Not much luck.

But I did learn quite a bit.  I got into quite a few elk.  It was crazy listening to them bugle all around me.  Quite frustrating blowing animal after animal out of the county. 

I tell you what though,  I learned quite a bit for my first year hunting.  I'm confident knowing what I know now that that I can get an animal down next year. 

That's part of the reason I'm even more curious about pack goats.  I was about 9 mi. in at full draw on one elk.  I hesitated because it looked like it was going to turn for a better shot.  Instead of turning, it bombed out.  I blue the whole bunch over into the next basin.  That basin was the one I originally planned to hunt.  I sat down for an hour, thought about it, and had to come to the hard conclusion that I'd kill myself trying to pack an elk out of that basin.  So I moved on. 

I don't know jack about horses so I considered goats for a chance of getting an elk a little far back.

I would use them a good portion of the year.  I've got little kids so it would be nice to pack in some more gear for them.

[actionshooter]

Goats are a great option, but like I was saying when we talked they take a lot of work and patience. That's why I backed away from them the last couple of years. I'll get back into goatpacking when I'm older and can't carry my pack anymore 

[MLHSN]

Any advice at dealing with owning both dogs and goats?  My wife had one dog that was retired by an irritated horse.  Granted, it was an annoying dog, but I'm just wondering if there is anything I can do to mitigate the issue.