Recommendations For Pack Mules? ,Goats? ,llamas? Backcountry ELK Hunt

C_Dett21

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I am curious if anybody has any recommendations on where they would rent some Mules, Goats, or llamas? in Wyoming
 
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sneaky

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For this year? Probably all of the places with pack animals to rent out are booked up for this season

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Jack321

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What about for other states?

Where do people look to rent packers/animals to help pack out elk?
 

BigPine

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Outfit called Sombrero has several places in western Colorado. Horses, not sure about mules. It a big operation. Google it up
 

sneaky

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For packers? For Wyoming look up the outfitters in the zone you will be hunting and call them. The llamas, like from Beau Baty at Wilderness Ridge Trail Llamas, get booked up well in advance.

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I am curious if anybody has any recommendations on where they would rent some Mules, Goats, or llamas? in Wyoming
I would make a call to Beau Baty with Wilderness Ridge Trail Llamas. I am sure there have been cancellations due to COVID. I have 11 llamas myself and there is nothing better for a backcountry hunt!!
 

sneaky

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Cancellations due to Covid? License sales and applications are up in every western state this year because of covid. This probably is the worst year to wait til almost August to look for pack animals to rent.

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Cancellations due to Covid? License sales and applications are up in every western state this year because of covid. This probably is the worst year to wait til almost August to look for pack animals to rent.

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it is definitely way too late to be looking but I know for a fact there have been more cancellations this year than prior years. I have heard that from multiple people that rent out packers.
 
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I looked into renting some llamas from wilderness ridge a few weeks ago and they were booked up. I also checked high uinta pack goats and they were booked as well. Ended up getting on the list to buy some goats next spring to raise myself. It'll be a three year investment to train them, but will be nice to never need to rely on renting.


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I looked into renting some llamas from wilderness ridge a few weeks ago and they were booked up. I also checked high uinta pack goats and they were booked as well. Ended up getting on the list to buy some goats next spring to raise myself. It'll be a three year investment to train them, but will be nice to never need to rely on renting.


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Goats are great. I started with goats before transitioning to llamas. I didn't like the fact that they have to follow you while hunting. Also, you train them until they are 3-4 and they only pack to age 9-10. Horses and llamas will pack until they are 20. It didn't make sense to me but i have some good friends that swear by them.


Good luck!!
 
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Goats are great. I started with goats before transitioning to llamas. I didn't like the fact that they have to follow you while hunting. Also, you train them until they are 3-4 and they only pack to age 9-10. Horses and llamas will pack until they are 20. It didn't make sense to me but i have some good friends that swear by them.


Good luck!!

I have been told that the goats can bring in elk and deer and put them at ease. Did you find that to be the case?


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I have heard mixed opinions on that. The hardcore goat guys that i have spoke with say that Elk and Deer don't pay attention to them but they always have stories of situation that they thought animals didn't like them and squandered and opportunity. I would rather not take that chance.

I will say that Goats are great companions and have quirky personalities. and they are much much less expensive than llamas!
 

LostArra

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For those not used to handling stock I think llama, goat, mule or horse rental would be a recipe for disaster at the worst and a reduction of hunting time at the best.

I had a hunting buddy who was not a stockman who rented a horse for an elk hunt in the San Juan Wilderness. Used it for packing, not riding. He ended up losing the horse. It actually just ran off. He finished the hunt. Paid the rental place for the lost horse and a week later they refunded his money as another hunter found the horse and got it returned to the owner. Pretty amazing story but he said "never again".
 
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Laramie

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In cool to cold weather it's much easier to arrange for an outfitter in the area to pack your meat after you kill. It may be a little more expensive but it's a lot less head ache. In early season warm weather, you likely wouldn't have time to wait for them to get it off the mountain before the meat spoiled. .
 
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