Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Goat Packing First Trip

Here are some photos from the maiden voyage of goat packing. This was a little Elk scouting trip with some friends. Since this was the maiden trip, we carried most of our gear and really put just token gear on the goats. It was as much about learning how the goats reacted, and how to handle them as it was about anything else. I can say, from just normal walks and having them around our property, that I really like them, they are sort of like a deer size animal, with a dogs desire to follow you around.

I used the Paradox Packs Roll Top with a base Talon. I really liked the base talon for times when I do not need a separate day pack. It was great for a small spotter and tripod plus some other essentials, like a camera.



Hiking in the goats were fine and never far away or needing much attention. They did not like the stream crossings very much. Stream crossings were the main problem area.


Camp setup at 10.5k. We used the BCS 2 Grande setup which was great for 4 and a stove. We didn't run the stove it was not cold enough. We hung a tarp (which was actually half of a BCS 2 for the goats)



We hiked up near tree line and did some spotting for a few hours.


It was also the first run with Uncompahgre Jacket from First Lite, which I really liked. It seemed pretty waterproof. It is probably to much for summer hikes down low, but anything near tree line, or shoulder season and I can certainly see a lot of uses. It basically replaces a rain shell and fleece.


Sometimes the goats were wanting to be a little to near. This was not the only occasion. I'm not sure how to handle this during hunting season.


I'm not sure, maybe tie them up on a bench if you know you are going to be hunting it. I'm really not sure what to do here. Sometimes they just wanted to be a little close.
[img]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3739/9560747572_466bee9b99.jpg[/img]

We had a nice fire that night, the goats were fine and enjoyed being near the fire.
[img]http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2883/9560747514_e763db9792.jpg[/img]

During the night, we heard some Elk an estimated 50 yards away. In the morning we found fresh sign approx. 50 yards away in the meadow.

The next day we did some more scouting before heading out. On the way out we gave them more gear to carry. Overall , it was a very good first trip. For those that hunt with goats, what do you do if they want to be close all the time ?
Kevin

Cool trip, you'll just have to stake them down if they want attention. Seems like good bottle-fed goats, which make for good packers, but yeah, they can be a little nosy sometimes. If they are really attached to people staying in sight of them will help keep the noise down. Definitely don't stake one down out of sight of at least another goat.

Are these your goats? They seem pretty small and lightly built for rentals.

I always figured if you were going to use pack animals and hunt you'd need a cook/wrangler/camp sitter.

They are our goats. We got them a few weeks ago. I had just taken them on a few walks, but never an overnight. Yes they are bottle-fed 3 yr olds. They were really well behaved, just a little too close at times. My friend used one as a back rest when he was behind the spotter for about 20 minutes.

They were fine handling any of the terrain, and didn't get weird with test shots. Just a bit nosy at times, especially if you were sitting for a while.

Get a spray bottle for the goats that get a little to personal. They hate being sprayed with water.
On the stream crossings, get a kiddy pool or a 8x10 blue tarp and build a "tub" with 2x6s and just start working with them in the back yard.

As far as them being close all the time, sometimes its a pain in the rear, but its kinda just the way they are.
I have high-lined them in camp and just leave them for the day, but if you have a noisy one that misses you, it can be a headache.

Is this the 'puffy', insulated one? If so, would you consider it for a all-day, every-day type of jacket?

I love it!

For some reason, setting up a tarp for the goats just got me tickled pink... "got a a goat tarp?"

I guess I just found a purpose for my wife's dairy goats... I've got a weather that's about 3 months old at the casa right now. Maybe I need to start training him up

This is great! You would hear my goats for miles if you high lined them at camp.

Congrats on getting your boys out. Fun to see others getting involved.

Here is a photo of us in the Winds of Wyoming this summer.

I like your leads goats "stickers" Is he a big saanen?

6 year old Saanen/Alpine. The one next to him is my big Saanen/Alpine/Boer...240lbs worth. They each carry anywhere from 40 to 60 lbs, depending on where we go.

My daughter and I on a hike with the goats.

Looks like you guys are having pretty good success packing goats. I tried packing lama's once. Friend of mine was raising them. I was in the outfitting business and thought they could have promise for hunting afoot in rough country. They might, but once was enough. I had an older one whose bones would be compost by now if he had been mine. Another young but mature one that was good to pack about 25 lbs, but wanted to stop and lay down every few hundred yards, and two young ones that had never been saddled. These two were the most promising, but after that trip I stuck with my mules and horses.

Looks like a nice groups you guys have.

@ cobrad - Our experience has not been positive with Llamas. Three of them got spooked when they saw our goats and their owner (with an open umbrella) about a hundred yards off, they (Llamas) turned and ran off...didn't stop for 14 miles. I know some folks love them, but we have had bad experiences with them.

I have owned packgoats for 7 years and use them every summer in rugged conditions. My first two were worthless (from a dairy breeder), but my current six, from a reputable packgoat breeder in Oregon, have been priceless. Mine carry anywhere from 40 to 60 lbs each, depending on the terrain.

This is really awesome!

Furry little slaves to carry schitt