Pack goats?

[Hawker]

Has anyone every use them? I read a brief article on them and now I am interested in them. Apparently a good pack goat can carry 45lbs. Seems like one to two goats could really help out on a pack out or maybe packing in the family.

 

[MuleyFever]

Check the backcountry stock forum.
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?122-Backcountry-Stock

 

[WyoElk]

Lots of great things about goats. Read up on the potential disease transmission between goats and wild sheep. Some say it's unfounded and others are adamantly against goats in sheep country. Goats do offer some pretty cool options though.

 

[MattB]

Lots of great things about goats. Read up on the potential disease transmission between goats and wild sheep. Some say it's unfounded and others are adamantly against goats in sheep country. Goats do offer some pretty cool options though.

The one person on this site that I have seen argue the disease transmission issue posted an article to support his point which in fact contradicted his position. IMO it is not worth the risk.

 

[MarlinMark]

There is no such thing as a goat proof fence.... Something to keep in mind when fantasizing about goats.

 

[GotDraw?]

Not Goats-- but something to consider...

Two years ago I wanted to hunt a remote, high elevation area for 16 days with my brother and a friend. I could not get a packer to take us there-- response being "I can't get my mules in there".

I thought I was smart, since I've packed by mule in a few times and also ridden horses for years...

I knew of a seldom used trail about 3/4 of the way up the mountain. I thought would be really smart, genius in fact, rent me up some burros and since they are skinnier, use them to navigate the steep, tight areas where "mules couldn't get". What a cluster. I wasted 3 full hunting days and far too much money on that genius move.

Consider the following very strongly:

Burros have extremely short legs when compared to a mule (and Goats are even shorter), once laden with pannier bags on each side, burros are actually nearly as wide a mule and their panniers hang about 18" off the ground (if that). When trying to lead or drive them up a steep single track trail, they have nowhere near the long legged ground clearance of mule. The burros' saddle bags were far too low to clear stumps, large rocks, logs and willows that were occasionally jammed up on each side of the main trail up the drainage (never mind any small side trails). They hung up EVERYWHERE. Forget about blow-downs- they could not get over them (even low ones). We had one major yard sale when a pannier tore wide open on a rock when our shortest mule dragged it across a sharp edge. We never even made it to the "secret" trail to the remote area. We ended up have to abort our climb up the trail after spending 3 hours dealing with unhappy burros, had to bailing-wire the ripped pannier back together. Went back down the mountain, left the shortest burro there at corral, re-packed the following morning with one less burro then wasted hours driving the mules up to our fall-back, secondary camp site. We had to leave almost a weeks worth of food down the mountain due to lack of the short burro, which meant another trip down/then up the mountain one week later. Wasted another day on that one.

1) Goats are shorter than burros. 2) RE-read number 1

Best of luck!

JL

 

[Hawker]

Thanks for the "heads up" GotDraw. I will check into this before I bless my family with some stinky goats. My wife had already said "No!" to horses.

 

[husky390]

I believe elkeaterco is still runnin a string.

 

[GotDraw?]

BTW-- Goats or Donkeys can no doubt be useful, just be very aware of the terrain/trails you will potentially be navigating.

 

[Castirongoats]

The movi arguement is a mute point if you follow best paractices put out by the NAPgA. Think out about whatvwould havevto accure for a pack goat to transmit Movi to a wild goat. You would have to completely loose your goat, your goat would have to find wild sheep walk up to them and mske basically nose to nose contactvwith the wild sheep. I think that good since will clear pack goats from this stigma of being the Tiphiod Mary of the Ungulate world.

 

[tuffcity]

• M. ovitransfers from infected to healthy sheep or goats by
  • Direct physical contact
  • Airborne particles up to 30-100m from the source

( https://www.alberta.ca/pneumonia-and-bighorn-sheep.aspx)

If you're going to get goats then have them tested for M. ovi. (and certified as clear), then regardless of the debate you know you're fine.

 

[dtrkyman]

LLamas seem to be the ticket for backcountry help.

 

[Billy Goat]

I wonder if after 4 years and 10 months this gets moved to the correct thread.