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Author Topic: Pack Goats?  (Read 8718 times)

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Offline Stickboy

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Pack Goats?
« on: June 27, 2011, 08:05:11 pm »
Been reading some of the back issues of "Primitive Archer" that my wife kindly got me for my birthday (they actually arrived *on* my birthday, which was pretty awesome).  Came across the article on "pack goats" in Volume 1 issue 3, and wondered if anyone here has attempted the use of pack goats?  I've been thinking on getting a pygmy goat for a hiking companion for a while, and the article has further steeled my desire to get one -- now, for a hunting companion as much as for hiking.  Anyone have an insight on the use of a pygmy as a pack animal? 

If anyone is unfamiliar with the article, it talks about how the hunter loads about five-days worth of gear for a hunting trip onto a pack goat (in the article, they're proper goats, and not pygmies).  Once proper rapport is built with the goat, it follows him almost like a dog.  The deer he hunts seem curious as to what the goat is, and at times, come from cover to investigate, which offers bow shots.  The article notes that goats aren't squeamish about blood or carrying meat like horses tend to be, so they'll carry the butchered deer with no thought to it.  Horses are also much more expensive to house and sustain than is a goat, and are much more picky about what they will/can eat.  Depending on your stance on the taste of goat (I find it pretty tasty, myself), the writer suggests use of the goat as an archery target should it prove to be an insufficient pack animal.  ;)

I look forward to your thoughts!
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"A man should not step one foot
forth in the field without weapons.
One cannot know, when on the road,
when he will need his spear." - Havamal, 38

Offline Elktracker

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Re: Pack Goats?
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2011, 10:40:50 pm »
This is pretty funny but I know a very serious hillbilly friend of mine who uses them to pack into elk camp and pack his elk out. He has some big goats and there is a lead goat that the rest follow and the leader follows him, I think they pack somthing like 30pounds each and he has 4 tottal. a pigmy goat could pry pack about ten pounds worth of water or beer lol He could pry load more weight on them but he dont want to over work em on long packs. ;D
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my friends think my shops a mess, my wife thinks I have too much bow wood, my neighbors think im redneck white trash and they may all be right on the money!!

Josh Vance  Netarts OR. (Tillamook)

Offline johnston

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Re: Pack Goats?
« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2011, 03:55:10 am »
Use big goats with big orange vests. A small donkey works much better but does not taste as good. To me , anyway.

Lane

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Offline archerforlife2

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Re: Pack Goats?
« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2011, 04:28:29 am »
who needs pack animals.. i have a younger brother  >:D
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Offline Lee Slikkers

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Re: Pack Goats?
« Reply #4 on: June 28, 2011, 09:27:40 am »
Really shouldn't shoot and eat your younger brother...some folks frown on that type of thing  >:D
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Offline agd68

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Re: Pack Goats?
« Reply #5 on: June 28, 2011, 10:01:58 am »
I never  heard of using goats but I read an article about using Llamas. They are much like goats in terms of hardiness and ease of caring for, can pack about 150lbs over rough terrain. Dont know what they taste like but the Inca ate them and modern Peruvians eat them. Gotta love a truck you can eat when it breaks down...if only Fords were so accommodating  >:D
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Offline Stickboy

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Re: Pack Goats?
« Reply #6 on: June 28, 2011, 06:46:00 pm »
Yum...edible trucks... Lol.

I would consider an alternate animal, or even a larger goat, but my yard is only about pygmy goat sized, so I figure I'll see how one does.  I might have to borrow a younger brother if it doesn't work out, though.
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"A man should not step one foot
forth in the field without weapons.
One cannot know, when on the road,
when he will need his spear." - Havamal, 38

Offline Elktracker

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Re: Pack Goats?
« Reply #7 on: June 28, 2011, 07:12:32 pm »
here are some pics I stole off another site ;D
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my friends think my shops a mess, my wife thinks I have too much bow wood, my neighbors think im redneck white trash and they may all be right on the money!!

Josh Vance  Netarts OR. (Tillamook)

Offline Elktracker

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Re: Pack Goats?
« Reply #8 on: June 28, 2011, 07:13:31 pm »
more
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my friends think my shops a mess, my wife thinks I have too much bow wood, my neighbors think im redneck white trash and they may all be right on the money!!

Josh Vance  Netarts OR. (Tillamook)

Offline Elktracker

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Re: Pack Goats?
« Reply #9 on: June 28, 2011, 07:14:38 pm »
actually pretty cool IMO
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my friends think my shops a mess, my wife thinks I have too much bow wood, my neighbors think im redneck white trash and they may all be right on the money!!

Josh Vance  Netarts OR. (Tillamook)

Offline JackCrafty

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Re: Pack Goats?
« Reply #10 on: June 28, 2011, 07:53:07 pm »
Very cool!  Seen it before but I thought is was a joke.   8)
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Offline ErictheViking

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Re: Pack Goats?
« Reply #11 on: June 28, 2011, 08:25:36 pm »
That's pretty cool, best of all they will eat anything so no need to bring feed.
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Offline archerforlife2

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Re: Pack Goats?
« Reply #12 on: June 29, 2011, 01:44:48 am »
your welcome to the little brother anytime....    >:D
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Offline Stickboy

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Re: Pack Goats?
« Reply #13 on: June 29, 2011, 12:31:25 pm »
I agree: very cool.  Thanks for finding those pictures; I didn't have any luck when I looked for some.  Definitely going to be getting a goat now... Anyone have any thoughts on convincing a wife that a goat is a good idea? lol

There were a few pictures with the article, but none with the goats actually along on the hunt.  One of the main draws to the pack goat was the ability to eat about anything, especially tough stuff that other pack critters can't digest.  I'm not sure what kind of packs they have on those goats, but I would think a pack for a large dog would work.

Elktracker, what site did you get those from?  I wouldn't mind having a look at it.

Quote from: archerforlife2 on June 29, 2011, 01:44:48 am
your welcome to the little brother anytime....    >:D
I have a little sister, but she would be more likely to shoot me with an arrow than to help carry anything...
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"A man should not step one foot
forth in the field without weapons.
One cannot know, when on the road,
when he will need his spear." - Havamal, 38

Offline Pat B

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Re: Pack Goats?
« Reply #14 on: June 29, 2011, 07:13:28 pm »
...and if you get skunked on your hunt you could always eat mutton for super!  :D
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC
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