Pack animals for dummies

[Night goat]

Cant believe im considering this...

Just an idea/speculation at this point.

Curious about pack animals.

Goats are what has my curiosity the most because they seem easier to manage and cheaper to own, and I can just load em up in my truck and wouldnt need a trailer...

Lets talk about the pros and cons of goats, llamas, and a donkey. Donkey seems like the most expensive as far as feed and required space, but could ride the donkey once the destination is reached...

Ive worked around farm animals in the past and am not new to it, just never had any of my own and goats definitely seem the lowest maintenance.

Id like to be able to do week-2week long back country fly fishing trips and hiking expeditions. Or longer.

[vandeman17]

We have two horses. My advice is, unless you are going to be packing with them often, just rent or pay someone to use them when needed. The year around upkeep and cost is not fun 

[kselkhunter]

Depending on where you are, or what location you're going to, you can rent llamas for pack trips.  They can be delivered to trailhead for you, for a mileage fee.  And of course you can almost always get a drop camp for horses (assuming an outfitter is licensed for the area you want to go).

If looking to raise goats, note you'll need multiple goats per person.  Granted they're easiest of the pack animals to raise.  And they're good at clearing out unwanted brush on your property.     

I grew up on a farm, and worked many cattle ranches for years so have been exposed to most animals over the years.  I'd avoid mules/donkeys unless you plan on using them a lot.   Not to say there is anything bad, and plenty of guys on here have them.  But it's a lot of work and expense, and you need to use them enough to justify it.   Now if your land is big enough and you plan to use them a lot a few mules and horses are the best option of them all.   Just do the math on what you will do with them.

I currently backpack for hunting trips in multiple states, but am in the same boat of planning how to get my gear up the mountain as my 50s are right around the corner and I'm not sure how long I'll be able to keep up my current hunting style as I age.  Llamas are my choice at the moment if I were to raise an animal specifically for my pack hunt trips.   

[Night goat]

I'm 30 and had a shooting accident a few years back so while im good for 5-10 miles depending on terrain, my knee starts to turn to jello after a while. No pain, just not as much there as there used to be, and the girlfriend was in a bad car wreck at one point and has a hip isssue. Short trips are no issue but we are just relictant to get too far back and have to lay up an extra few days before packing back out, was thinking a critter or two to share the load with would be nice

[vandeman17]

I'm 30 and had a shooting accident a few years back so while im good for 5-10 miles depending on terrain, my knee starts to turn to jello after a while. No pain, just not as much there as there used to be, and the girlfriend was in a bad car wreck at one point and has a hip isssue. Short trips are no issue but we are just relictant to get too far back and have to lay up an extra few days before packing back out, was thinking a critter or two to share the load with would be nice

my vote is llamas

[kselkhunter]

Pack goats typically can haul 20-30lbs/goat.  Once trained they usually follow you along the trail, although the more stubborn ones may need leashing.  I'm sure others that currently pack goats will chime in with more details.

Llamas typically can haul 40-70lbs each, depending on size and maturity.  You typically halter and leash them up the trail.  The purchase price for a llama is higher than a goat, but you need less of them.  I'd suggest talking to the pack llama breeders to see if you can buy one of their pre-trained packers rather than buying a young llama and trying to train it yourself.

Both goats and llamas are good at foraging in the area of destination, but I'd still plan on packing in some food pellets.  Both are good off trail, due to their smaller sizes and split hooves.

I'd suggest contacting one of the llama rental places and try renting some first to see if you like it, there's one here in WA that is very helpful to talk to ( I forget their name but can look it up, just PM me).   And there are a few pack goat guys on here you can talk to (finding pack goat rentals is a bit harder).

[2MANY]

Horses and mules are a lifestyle choice not something you use twice a year.
If you are western and enjoy riding on a regular basis then great.
If not...............................don't.

[Lapua07]

Horses and mules are a lifestyle choice not something you use twice a year.
If you are western and enjoy riding on a regular basis then great.
If not...............................don't.

Yep ^^^^

I love mine but everyone of them I have had come at the cost of the seller thinking they would use them more then they did. I’m no cowboy and I’ve learned a lot in the last 4 years with mules. . . Along with lots of rodeos and a broken arm and ribs. This will be the first season they go in for more then the weekend. 3 weeks in the Cabinets of Montana.

[KFhunter]

Pack goats typically can haul 20-30lbs/goat.  Once trained they usually follow you along the trail, although the more stubborn ones may need leashing.  I'm sure others that currently pack goats will chime in with more details.

Llamas typically can haul 40-70lbs each, depending on size and maturity.  You typically halter and leash them up the trail.  The purchase price for a llama is higher than a goat, but you need less of them.  I'd suggest talking to the pack llama breeders to see if you can buy one of their pre-trained packers rather than buying a young llama and trying to train it yourself.

Both goats and llamas are good at foraging in the area of destination, but I'd still plan on packing in some food pellets.  Both are good off trail, due to their smaller sizes and split hooves.

I'd suggest contacting one of the llama rental places and try renting some first to see if you like it, there's one here in WA that is very helpful to talk to ( I forget their name but can look it up, just PM me).   And there are a few pack goat guys on here you can talk to (finding pack goat rentals is a bit harder).

I'm amazed people aren't coming back to camp to find dead goats, isn't this a problem or concern?

[Bofire]

I was with a friend at an Idaho packers convention. He was well known mule/horse packer. A guy came up to us and asked Bob how he's pack a Llama. Bob said "I spose I'd split it in half and put a half on each side of a good mule" LOL
Carl

[actionshooter]

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,5784.0/all.html

Here is an old thread on packgoats… should be some good info

Some things have changed, due to concerns over wild sheep, goats are no longer aloud in some areas.  I have always worried about leaving the goats alone in camp with predators and as the number of predators increase.... so does the concern.

But all and all if they fit your style they work out great...

[Machias]

I was with a friend at an Idaho packers convention. He was well known mule/horse packer. A guy came up to us and asked Bob how he's pack a Llama. Bob said "I spose I'd split it in half and put a half on each side of a good mule" LOL
Carl

 

[pianoman9701]

Was that you, Fred? 

[KFhunter]

Old school rescue!

https://www.idahostatesman.com/outdoors/hunting/article235912417.html

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[theleo]

I was with a friend at an Idaho packers convention. He was well known mule/horse packer. A guy came up to us and asked Bob how he's pack a Llama. Bob said "I spose I'd split it in half and put a half on each side of a good mule" LOL
Carl

You're friend is a little more diplomatic than most of the packers I know. Their common answer is along the lines of "I'd just let it lie, birds have got to eat too."

For covering a ton of miles, mules can't be beat, but like others have stated it's a life style. One or two trips a year doesn't cut it, but that's also a good excuse for getting out more. With 2 riding animals and a pack mule I think you'd be pretty amazed how much country you and your girlfriend can cover.