Burroes

[Tim in Wa.]

Anyone on this site packing with them? Seems like they have allot going for them.

 

[FLAK]

Have a miniature, dont pack with him but he's one cool kat.

 

[Stefan]

I dig them!! I have seen them being packed but have never used them.

 

[AKMAN]

Wanted a burro or two for a while. Thinking Magger Mule could use one for a buddy.
Not much of an option up here but I know the BLM auctions often sell burros.
You'd have some work getting them hunt ready I reckon...

Edit: "burro" is a fun word around our house. The Mrs. thinks it's hilarious how I pronounce it...
(She's Latina, so every time I say "burrow", she says "burro" and makes it sound sexy.)

 

[sab]

Howdy, Tim:

Try PMing Eric Lynn on the Kifaru forum (he's "gonehuntin" over there). He's very knowledgable, and even created a web site for donkey packing.

Regards,
Scott

 

[Gr8bawana]

Make sure you get a gelded burro or a female if you have horses or other burros. My daughter had a run in with a testotserone enraged male while taking riding lessons on a female horse. Her trainer had a pet burro and he broke out of his pen and there was no stopping him from trying to get to the female horse.
She had to outrun him and then get into a horse trailer with the horse to get away from him.
It was quite a traumatic experience for her and my wife.

 

[PWCGray]

they are great pack animals for leading on foot. the reason they have never been mainstream north of the border is they can't keep pace with a riding horse because of their stride length.

 

[1signguy]

they are great pack animals for leading on foot. the reason they have never been mainstream north of the border is they can't keep pace with a riding horse because of their stride length.

I agree- I have a burro we use for roping practice who is a sweet heart but not good if you riding... For hiking they are ideal! They eat nothing...

 

[Read1t48]

Howdy, Tim:

Try PMing Eric Lynn on the Kifaru forum (he's "gonehuntin" over there). He's very knowledgable, and even created a web site for donkey packing.

+2.... I think he even makes panniers for them. Very nice quality stuff.

 

[Tim in Wa.]

Howdy, Tim:

Try PMing Eric Lynn on the Kifaru forum (he's "gonehuntin" over there). He's very knowledgable, and even created a web site for donkey packing.

Regards,
Scott

Thanks Scott,I go on his site from time to time and it seems like a great idea,I was hoping someone near me might use them so I could see their setup in person
Tim

 

[sab]

Thanks Scott,I go on his site from time to time and it seems like a great idea,I was hoping someone near me might use them so I could see their setup in person
Tim

Tim:

Like I said - PM him. He attends events all over the place and knows a lot of people in the "donkey packing community". Chances are he knows someone in Washington state...

Regards,
Scott

 

[GotDraw?]

I used 4 of them ONCE for a back country hunt. NEVER again.

They are so short that their panniers do not clear large rocks and stumps on narrow single track trails. It can really suck when they continually get hung up. If the trail is steep, with big rocks I guarantee you big problems. We were 4 miles in on a climb for a 17 day hunt and had to turn around after one burrow hung up on a stump and ripped a saddle bag open and scattered gear all over. Had to pack it all up with bailing wire and take all the burros back down the mountain. Lost a full day hunting. Left that burro behind at the corral along with a ton of food. Had to go back down the mountain after 10 days to get the rest of the food and lost another day hunting.

NEVER again. Give me mules. They can carry far more and can step over/clear things that burros will hang up on

PM me w/questions.

 

[Wapiti66]

I used 4 of them ONCE for a back country hunt. NEVER again.

They are so short that their panniers do not clear large rocks and stumps on narrow single track trails. It can really suck when they continually get hung up. If the trail is steep, with big rocks I guarantee you big problems. We were 4 miles in on a climb for a 17 day hunt and had to turn around after one burrow hung up on a stump and ripped a saddle bag open and scattered gear all over. Had to pack it all up with bailing wire and take all the burros back down the mountain. Lost a full day hunting. Left that burro behind at the corral along with a ton of food. Had to go back down the mountain after 10 days to get the rest of the food and lost another day hunting.

NEVER again. Give me mules. They can carry far more and can step over/clear things that burros will hang up on

PM me w/questions.

Something I would have not considered, maybe this could be solved with mammoths. I think this same issue would come up for the goat and llama packers also.?

 

[GotDraw?]

RE Burro height/clearance.

My issues was the tight, steep trail we used to access our hunting area. Burros simply were not tall enough to have the clearance needed to get their panniers past snags and dead-falls that were cut close to the trail, nor boulders and thick brush that was tight to the trail.

If I was hunting in an area where trail clearance was not an issue, then I would consider them.

Mammoths are awesome! You can hang a bull elk on each side and pack them down the mountain w/o quartering. But have you ever tried trailering them? You'd need a serious diesel truck!

 

[AKMAN]

Something I would have not considered, maybe this could be solved with mammoths.

My dad keeps threatening Yaks for hunting in Alaska. I think a bactrian camel* or two would suit me and my packing habits just fine.

*said to be capable of packing up to 1000 pounds

 

[Wapiti66]

I have no experience with them, I have a horse and two mules. But if you scramble them all together and look at their attitudes its more like I have two horses and a donkey.

 

[Eddy C]

Thanks Scott,I go on his site from time to time and it seems like a great idea,I was hoping someone near me might use them so I could see their setup in person
Tim

Howdy Tim
Eric is on facebook........so am I.......get a mule Miss Dolly is still going strong she is 19 or 20 in her prime

 

[Tim in Wa.]

Howdy Tim
Eric is on facebook........so am I.......get a mule Miss Dolly is still going strong she is 19 or 20 in her prime

I'm glad Miss Dolly is doing well.Hopefully she has learned to stay clear of pissed off moose

 

[theleo91386]

Something I would have not considered, maybe this could be solved with mammoths. I think this same issue would come up for the goat and llama packers also.?

The flip side to the too short problem is the too tall problem. My personal experience is that tall animals (mules 15 HH and taller) end up with lighter loads. The reason being, is that it's PITA to get half an elk up that high when you're by yourself.

 

[JWP58]

I'm interested in getting into pack animals. Either llamas or burros. I plan on renting llamas next bow season to try it out.

Burros seem like a great option because of their size, availability (from blm), and hardiness. Anyone else have input on burros?