Bevance that’s some good advice. Common sense is definitely the most important thing. And also the ability to stay calm in shaky situations. People who panic shouldn’t take livestock into the mountains.
Anybody can learn how to use llamas or horses if they invest a little time. The first time you drove, you probably started in a parking lot before you went out on the open road. Likewise hunting in the mountains is no place to learn how to use livestock. If you’re going to do that, you should find somewhere near where you live and gain at least a little bit of knowledge and hands on experience about it. Learn how to tie a few knots as well as some fundamental dos and don'ts.
Spitting is one thing that bothers me about llamas. If I feed you and water you and make sure you’re safe and you spit on me, we are going to have a problem. Well… you are anyway.
Llamas can typically carry about 60 to 80 pounds. And to my knowledge, you can’t ride them. Horses can carry 80 pounds per side. Or me. I like that. I have a set of riding saddle panniers. When I’m hunting, I’ll pull a single pack horse behind me. More often than not I’m heading uphill. If I kill an elk, I can throw those panniers on my riding horse load my elk and hike downhill back to camp. It sure is nice to ride up the mountain in the morning without getting beat up or sweaty and have your entire elk back in base camp the same day. If I’m going to pay for animals and get up early every day and to bed a little later because I’m taking care of them they better justify the cost and effort. I’ll be damned if I’m going to hike up the mountain every morning on foot getting sweat soaked with my animals hot on my heels. They wouldn’t be worth the trouble to me.
