My goat packing experiment

[Legend]

I wanted to update this thread since I finally got to pack meat with my goats. This was a rut hunt here in eastern Washington that I drew. I was expecting some snow but it ended up being in the 40s and super mild. Great for backcountry hunting, not so great for deer movement. On the morning of the second day I glassed up a decent buck (for this area) that I wanted to go after. I packed up my ridge camp and dropped down to the creek and set up camp knowing I was probably going to be coming back in the dark.

We crossed the creek and started our 1800 foot climb up the other side to get to where I had last seen the buck. Well when we got up there he was 100 yards from where I left him pushing does around. I got into 280 yards and as I was setting up for my shot the goats came up from below me and the buck spotted them. It ended up working in my favor because he sat there and watched them eat while I got steady. I shot the buck and he took a nasty dive off a cliff breaking some tines.

He died in some thick brush which ended up making it super difficult quartering him out by myself. But I did it and loaded the goats up. We got him back to camp just after dark.
The next morning I boned out all the meat and loaded up camp. Most goats were around 30 pounds and one was at 38. We had a 3 mile 2000 foot climb to make. I ended up having to take some meat off the heavy one and putting it in my pack the last half mile as he was slowing down a lot. I should have done more conditioning but we moved in August and I had to build these guys a whole new barn. Anyway we made it after about 2.5 hours. Gave them some hay and headed home.
Lessons:
1. I will never tarp up again, coats are the way to go. So much easier.
2. Tie them up while you are working on your animal, they will get curious and you might have to go retrieve them.
3. This was the deepest water crossing they have done, if you can get one across the rest will come. If you are doing this lead your best goat across.
4. Using 4 goats for a solo mule deer hunt was perfect. Not too much work and able to carry more than enough.

I can’t wait for summer hiking season and getting to do more hunting with them next year.
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Looking good.

Not to pick an argument but the coats are just to make the human feel good. We run with no shelter to sub zero temperature and no issues with goats.

The key is to not pamper them at home so they grow hair. Ours have a wind shelter only and this year we saw -37F....goats were fine.

 

[Bachto]

Looking good.

Not to pick an argument but the coats are just to make the human feel good. We run with no shelter to sub zero temperature and no issues with goats.

The key is to not pamper them at home so they grow hair. Ours have a wind shelter only and this year we saw -37F....goats were fine.

Do you think there is an argument that if they are spending a lot of energy keeping warm that they will have less energy to pack? That was my thought on the coats as I know they can handle pretty nasty weather.

They don't get pampered too much at home, just a shelter to keep them dry and out of the wind since we get a lot of that. It was supposed to rain and potentially snow which is why I brought them.

 

[GoatPackr]

Do you think there is an argument that if they are spending a lot of energy keeping warm that they will have less energy to pack? That was my thought on the coats as I know they can handle pretty nasty weather.

They don't get pampered too much at home, just a shelter to keep them dry and out of the wind since we get a lot of that. It was supposed to rain and potentially snow which is why I brought them.

They are fine without a tarp or coat. But considering you were expecting rain then a tarp or coat isn't a bad idea. A wild animal can get shelter but our goats are tied and not able to keep themselves dry. That's important thing. A little moisture probably not a problem but wet and cold Can be a problem.


Kris

 

[Legend]

Do you think there is an argument that if they are spending a lot of energy keeping warm that they will have less energy to pack? That was my thought on the coats as I know they can handle pretty nasty weather.

They don't get pampered too much at home, just a shelter to keep them dry and out of the wind since we get a lot of that. It was supposed to rain and potentially snow which is why I brought them.

Interesting perspective and it never really crossed my mind that their caloric demand would be higher, which is obviously accurate. My guess is that you would struggle to measure the difference in packing performance. If you bond with them there is nothing that will make them quit.

We always hunt where there is timber and try and camp where there is cover. We just tie them up to a tree.

Goats are amazing and short of saddling an elk nothing is going where they can.

 

[Plainsman79]

@Bachto any chance you could post up a pic of your goat shelter at home? What is the life expectancy for a pack goat?

 

[Bachto]

@Bachto any chance you could post up a pic of your goat shelter at home? What is the life expectancy for a pack goat?

Yes I can when I get home. It's nothing too fancy. It's a 12 x 24 lean-to style shelter. Half of it is shelter for the goats, the other half it hay storage for the winter.

 

[Plainsman79]

Yes I can when I get home. It's nothing too fancy. It's a 12 x 24 lean-to style shelter. Half of it is shelter for the goats, the other half it hay storage for the winter.

Thanks man!

What’s the life expectancy for a pack goat?

 

[Bachto]

Thanks man!

What’s the life expectancy for a pack goat?

10 to 12 years. very similar to a dog.

 

[Bachto]

We finally got out on our first overnight trip of the summer. Lesson learned is heat, even though we started in the morning. We didn’t gain a ton of elevation but on the second half of the trek in it was pretty warm and you could tell it effected the goats. Something to keep in mind. Otherwise it was a great trip.

 

[Untamed]

Great thread! Definitely interesting. What kind of trailer set up do you use to transport the goats? How often do they need water out on the trail?

 

[GoatPackr]

Great thread! Definitely interesting. What kind of trailer set up do you use to transport the goats? How often do they need water out on the trail?

A lot of guys my self included just put the goats into a truck bed with a taller canopy. No trailer needed.
As for water they can go days without drinking. I've packed in Friday afternoon to a lake where they had plenty water. Even went swimming with them. Sunday evening got home and put them in the pasture and they walked right past the water and out to their feeder. They didn't drink the entire time they were away from home.
They get water from green vegetation they eat.

 

[Bachto]

Great thread! Definitely interesting. What kind of trailer set up do you use to transport the goats? How often do they need water out on the trail?

I use a 2 horse trailer.

Like mentioned above, if they have green feed they hardly need any water. It’s pretty amazing actually.

 

[Hoosker Doo]

This is my mode of transport. Saddles and panniers fit in the toolbox up top.

 

[Rookie season]

Great thread! Definitely interesting. What kind of trailer set up do you use to transport the goats? How often do they need water out on the trail?

I also have a two axle two horse trailer for 5 goats. With the center divider it's tight but with no divider they have room. As far a water the forge will dictate how much they drink. I give them a few minutes when crossing water, they either drink or don't. I just picked up two gallon buckets with the hopes of holding some gear and doubling as a camp water source.