Pack animals ?

[Hunt eat repeat]

So I’ve been thinking about pack animals for a long time. I have went back and forth between goats, donkeys, Lammas. I’m not interested in horses or mules. I’ve been dragging my feet because I know it’s a year round commitment and a “life style” . I recently herniated a disk and now I’m thinking pack animals might be in my near future.
First off I have all the room I would need for any route I go.
We cut hay so I would have free hay every year.

So I guess I’d like to hear from the guys that own these animals and deal with them on a regular basis. Pros and cons. What owning these animals really looks like.


Thanks !

 

[Ucsdryder]

You picked every animal that you can’t ride. Why would you pick a donkey over a horse or a mule that you can ride when it’s not packing meat or heavy camp.

 

[Hunt eat repeat]

I don’t get any enjoyment out of riding a horse. I’ve done it many times and it’s worse on my back than anything I’ve done. I don’t need my butt packed up the hill. I can do that. And I don’t need bucked off and paralyzed. lol

 

[grfox92]

You picked every animal that you can’t ride. Why would you pick a donkey over a horse or a mule that you can ride when it’s not packing meat or heavy camp.

They cant kill you if you dont ride them.

 

[grfox92]

So I’ve been thinking about pack animals for a long time. I have went back and forth between goats, donkeys, Lammas. I’m not interested in horses or mules. I’ve been dragging my feet because I know it’s a year round commitment and a “life style” . I recently herniated a disk and now I’m thinking pack animals might be in my near future.
First off I have all the room I would need for any route I go.
We cut hay so I would have free hay every year.

So I guess I’d like to hear from the guys that own these animals and deal with them on a regular basis. Pros and cons. What owning these animals really looks like.


Thanks !

Im all in on Donkeys. I have one. When my current horse dies ill get another donkey and use them to pack.

 

[Silveroddo]

I’m curious about it but having grown up with animals, cattle, horses, etc. I can see the upside to renting Lama’s. It’s not cheap but I doubt it’s more expensive than owning them. I know a guy that’s a pretty successful elk hunter and has a single Mule, I know you said nothing equine, but if I was getting serious it would probably be a toss up between a pair of Lamas or a mule .

 

[Hnthrdr]

Im all in on Donkeys. I have one. When my current horse dies ill get another donkey and use them to pack.

I want to hear about what you like about donkeys? Someone else recommended them on here. I’m out on mules, and llamas. Might end up with a horse(s) but I have little to no interest in riding. But a pack animals sounds okay im going to be forced to have one

 

[MTBackroads]

Year round livestock isn’t easy on a herniated disk.
Went hunting with a friend last year who runs a string of llamas. One got off the line and was pretty easily caught, but my friend almost got yeeted, barely held on for the ride.
Getting into pack animals is for young guys, renting pack animals is for smart guys.
YMMV.

 

[grfox92]

I want to hear about what you like about donkeys? Someone else recommended them on here. I’m out on mules, and llamas. Might end up with a horse(s) but I have little to no interest in riding. But a pack animals sounds okay im going to be forced to have one

Where i live and hunt, you basically need pack animals to hunt elk, especially a general tag.

Anyway, Donkeys live for 40 years. They have been packed on globally for like 14k years. In the middle east they pack 50% of their body weight on them. My donkey is 500lbs. He could technically pack out an entire deboned elk. I wouldn't. But 2 donkeys is all you would need to pack a whole elk out.

They know their job almost instinctively, they live for 40 years. Can pack out the same weight as a horse, they need less water, they need less food and can eat more variety than horses. They arent nearly as sensitive as horses health wise and temperament. They dont blowup when they get scared. They fight off predators. They are cheap or free.

Why donkeys arent more popular for pack animals I have no idea. Everywhere outside the US and Canada, what they use.

 

[grfox92]

Hippy and Curly. Inseparable best friends. Hippy is a 1400lb 23 year old Gelding. Curly is a 500lb 5 year old Gelded Donkey. Its a hilarious duo.

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[grfox92]

Ive packed with Horses and Mules including walking a mule.

Donkey will have his first trip in the mountains sometime in the next few weeks.

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[Hunt eat repeat]

Im all in on Donkeys. I have one. When my current horse dies ill get another donkey and use them to pack.

I have watched some stuff on packing with donkeys. I’ve been leaning towards them over other options. Did you buy a trained animal or did you train it yourself ? From what I understand if takes some work to get one turned into a legit pack animal.

 

[wyodan]

I've had donkeys and llamas, and now have mules. Between donkeys and llamas, I enjoyed the donkeys more, and did not find them that much extra work. You can still feel kinda western leading a donkey, and they will actually like you back. I had a couple of TIP trained BLM burros, and my buddy now owns them. I just put pack saddles on them at the house and walked around with them, it did not seem like it took very much training to get them going. I've packed an entire quartered elk on the two of them, hide and head included. If I was to do it all over again, I would look for some in the 12.5-13 hands tall. That would give you enough size to do most anything in the backcountry. I think 3 is the perfect number for one person, in any pack animal.

 

[grfox92]

I have watched some stuff on packing with donkeys. I’ve been leaning towards them over other options. Did you buy a trained animal or did you train it yourself ? From what I understand if takes some work to get one turned into a legit pack animal.

Zero training. He was a stud who's offspring kept being stillborn. My buddy got him for free and gave him to me.

First time he ever had a halter put on him my buddy jumped on his back, got him to ride out and make turns off of leg pressure. Ive put panniers on him and lead him around with a lead rope. He needs some more halter training. But hes almost good to go.

We are going to take him out in the mountains soon. The good thing for me is he will follow Hippy anywhere he goes. So ill have someone lead Hippy and ill lead Donkey behind and that donk will go wherever that horse goes (fingers crossed).

In terms of them needing a lot of training it probably depends on the Donkey much like horses and mules. Some mules require little training, they just know their job instinctual. Other Mules I have seen get hundreds of hours of training and need a bullet behind the ear.

 

[The_BuckingSpot]

Hippy and Curly. Inseparable best friends. Hippy is a 1400lb 23 year old Gelding. Curly is a 500lb 5 year old Gelded Donkey. Its a hilarious duo.

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This makes me want a donkey.

 

[Bachto]

I’ve been a goat guy for about 5 years now. I’ve had some really fun trips and really enjoy my goats. They go wherever I can go and are pretty easy keepers in camp. That being said I am picking up a donkey tomorrow to dabble in the donkey packing and maybe drive out to Colorado to do a race. The main reason I’m looking at a donkey is I can slim my string down from 5 goats to 2 donkeys and carry more weight. Also sometimes I really just want to leave them tied up at camp and I can’t do that with goats. Anyway here’s the guy I’m getting tomorrow:

 

[Ryan Avery]

Owned goats and llamas, and now have mules.

**** llamas
Goats are great, with only two real downsides. They have a short working life, and you really need five to hunt and pack out elk effectively.

If I had to do it over again with a non-riding animal, I would get donkeys.