Traveling out of state with pack animals

[Wprinkle]

Not sure what all crossing state lines with livestock entails but horse people who show their horses do it all the time. Can't be that involved. Probably something like showing they've been vaccinated.

Taking stock into the backcountry is a hassle. I use a couple mules and also hunt solo. Strange things seem to happen on the trail. One gets away from you and heads off without you or decides it's not crossing an obstacle. You have to get up early to feed and water them, twice a day. You will likely have to pack in their food before the hunt unless there is somewhere to graze them, which there usually isn't. If you do graze them, that takes a lot of time too. Training is a big time commitment and with wild burros, it's probably double or triple the time/effort of a domesticated one. Equines aren't like dogs. They're not really good company although burros are said to bond better than horses. As far as traveling with them, horses once trained travel well although you might need to have an in-between spot to overnight. It's a long term commitment that makes zero financial sense.

That said, if you get an elk down, it's hard enough getting yourself out let alone the meat. Taking stock in is a lot of work but you'll kill yourself boning out and packing elk meat by yourself so for that reason, it's absolutely worth it. Oh, and it's just cool too.

I started my animals from colts. That was hard. Nothing wrong with getting a good broke animal and remember, the purchase price is usually always the least expensive part of owning horses/stock.

I think you nailed it on the head. Especially with packing meat. Everyone is gung ho and walks 8 miles in with camp. Then they get one down 2 miles deeper than that and don't realise how many trips it takes to get it out, and by trip 1 or 2 you are so wore out you're a danger to yourself. I can't imagine the amount of meat that get left or ruined in this situation.

 

[Wprinkle]

That’s awesome. This may be the new plan. Plus I can fit several in a hauler in the back of my truck rather than toting a trailer. Any issues with the restrictions about disease prevention to bighorns? Also, do you just tie them at camp during the day while you hunt?


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I hotwire broke mine. Now if you pass someone on the trail those little fers will get confused and start following the other people, if you're not paying attention you get to do some backtracking.

 

[Preston]

Do you think I am asking for more issues than it’s worth?

I’ve read that you can usually let them graze and sleep overnight at rodeo grounds in small towns for a small fee/free. Any experience with that?


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I've traveled from AR to Montana twice with three horses and a burro and other long trips in Montana. Like other said just get a health certificate, coggins test, and your brand inspection. Yes you can stop over at fair grounds and a lot of stockyard have overnight boarding. I usually just camped onsite with my stock to make sure nothing happened.

Packing an elk 7 miles at high altitude would be rather difficult for animals living at sea level so they would need serious conditioning . I would hunt closer to the road. I would recommend just traveling 10-12 hours a day and giving your animals two days of allclimation before hitting the trail to make sure the get plenty water/feed.

 

[Mike 338]

I've hunted with goats. Tons less management with goats than equines. Everything is less expensive with goats. Another big plus with goats is you're less likely to be hurt by them. That's not a small thing to take into account. Never had a problem with predators but that's a roll of the dice you have to be willing to take. The biggest problem I see with goats is that people never take the time to train them. People think you take them out once when you get them and because they followed you around fairly well, they're good to go. You put a load on them and ask them to haul it out, they can just lay down and refuse to get up until you remove the load. I've also seen them not want to follow if they know they're going back for a second load. They need to be trained to know they have a job to do and you should get enough so you don't overload them. Goats follow, they don't lead. You can't expect to put a lead around their neck and have them walk behind, or at least mine wouldn't. They don't much like crossing water and can flat out refuse to walk through it although I did have one that walked through small creeks just fine. They others wouldn't cross any water they couldn't jump overt. For stock animals, they're easy keepers but have a pretty short life so be ready to cycle new ones in.

 

[Wprinkle]

I've hunted with goats. Tons less management with goats than equines. Everything is less expensive with goats. Another big plus with goats is you're less likely to be hurt by them. That's not a small thing to take into account. Never had a problem with predators but that's a roll of the dice you have to be willing to take. The biggest problem I see with goats is that people never take the time to train them. People think you take them out once when you get them and because they followed you around fairly well, they're good to go. You put a load on them and ask them to haul it out, they can just lay down and refuse to get up until you remove the load. I've also seen them not want to follow if they know they're going back for a second load. They need to be trained to know they have a job to do and you should get enough so you don't overload them. Goats follow, they don't lead. You can't expect to put a lead around their neck and have them walk behind, or at least mine wouldn't. They don't much like crossing water and can flat out refuse to walk through it although I did have one that walked through small creeks just fine. They others wouldn't cross any water they couldn't jump overt. For stock animals, they're easy keepers but have a pretty short life so be ready to cycle new ones in.

Other than being able to ride them horses/mules are way way way to much of a PITA!!! After using llamas and goats its pretty hard to load up the mules. Its so damn nice to ride in but packing feed, shoeing tools, spare fn everything its ALMOST not worth it to me. First time I used Llamas I swore Id never go back, now if I could get llamas to act like goats and not little ass holes I would have it made lol

 

[jlw0142]

Other than being able to ride them horses/mules are way way way to much of a PITA!!! After using llamas and goats its pretty hard to load up the mules. Its so damn nice to ride in but packing feed, shoeing tools, spare fn everything its ALMOST not worth it to me. First time I used Llamas I swore Id never go back, now if I could get llamas to act like goats and not little ass holes I would have it made lol

I was also looking at llamas. Could you speak a little more to them?


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[Mike 338]

I think you nailed it on the head. Especially with packing meat. Everyone is gung ho and walks 8 miles in with camp. Then they get one down 2 miles deeper than that and don't realise how many trips it takes to get it out, and by trip 1 or 2 you are so wore out you're a danger to yourself. I can't imagine the amount of meat that get left or ruined in this situation.

Absolute truth. I have a neighbor who broke his ankle with load of meat on his back. Lucky for him he was only 100 yards from camp when it happened.

 

[Wprinkle]

I was also looking at llamas. Could you speak a little more to them?


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Slightly more work than goats but I love em. I went all out and bout 4 of the absolute best packers I could find. They will pack for approx 15 years if taken care of. Mine all will do 100 lbs. require no feed unless its snowy or real cold. 3 of mine are NOT pets and 1 is pretty friendly (i think he smokes weed). All are gelded and get along. I do move mine everyday so they are staked on fresh ground. With my packing some of my own stuff I get an elk out in 1 trip. Maintenance on them is pretty easy, I leg them up about 4 months out just taking them on hikes or have them follow while I ride a bike real slow. No issues with water crossing except they all stop and pee in it. Down side of them to goats is deadfall and non maintained trails. Any logs above about knee high they wont "jump."

 

[jlw0142]

Slightly more work than goats but I love em. I went all out and bout 4 of the absolute best packers I could find. They will pack for approx 15 years if taken care of. Mine all will do 100 lbs. require no feed unless its snowy or real cold. 3 of mine are NOT pets and 1 is pretty friendly (i think he smokes weed). All are gelded and get along. I do move mine everyday so they are staked on fresh ground. With my packing some of my own stuff I get an elk out in 1 trip. Maintenance on them is pretty easy, I leg them up about 4 months out just taking them on hikes or have them follow while I ride a bike real slow. No issues with water crossing except they all stop and pee in it. Down side of them to goats is deadfall and non maintained trails. Any logs above about knee high they wont "jump."

Gotcha. So, if you were me, traveling 20-30 hours to hunt, would you go with 2-3 llamas or 4-6 goats? I know this is a very opinion-based and open-ended question, but it seems like you really know what you’re talking about and I appreciate you being so responsive.


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[Wprinkle]

Gotcha. So, if you were me, traveling 20-30 hours to hunt, would you go with 2-3 llamas or 4-6 goats? I know this is a very opinion-based and open-ended question, but it seems like you really know what you’re talking about and I appreciate you being so responsive.


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I don't know shit, I'm just lazy and f up a lot lol...Goats are the easiest. I like llamas the best for me. Llamas are more upkeep and require a trailer or stocks. I would probably go goats and you can always upgrade or rent llamas and see if you like em. Good llamas cost what a mule does and goats are way way cheaper and easier to sell if you don't like them. Ya go with goats first.

 

[jlw0142]

I don't know shit, I'm just lazy and f up a lot lol...Goats are the easiest. I like llamas the best for me. Llamas are more upkeep and require a trailer or stocks. I would probably go goats and you can always upgrade or rent llamas and see if you like em. Good llamas cost what a mule does and goats are way way cheaper and easier to sell if you don't like them. Ya go with goats first.

You have solved my dilemma. Thanks man! I appreciate it!


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[rayporter]

IF you go with equines i highly recommend a mentor. highly.

book learnin will go only so far. after that it is the school of hard knocks.

you can do it. but be prepared for headaches.