Pack goat rental

[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.