Elk hunting with Pack Goats

[Autumnarcher]

I recently became interested in pack goats, and since I have plenty of room at home to raise them, I am seriously considering getting a couple to start out with to use elk hunting. Of course, I have a lot of questions, many of which I have found answers to.

I've seen it mentioned that the goats will follow you around while hunting. My first thought was ,great, just like having 4 kids taggin along not paying attention and spooking game in the process.

My question is as relates to this. How do elk react when they spot the goats? When trying to stalk in close for a shot opportunity, are there problems with the goats giving away your position, or getting spooked by a bugling bull and blowing the set-up?

Since sometimes action comes fast, there is not time to high line them or tether them to a tree, I guess I'm just concerned with them being a hinderance to the actual hunting aspect of the trip.

Is it practical to use the goats to pack in and set up camp, and keep them in camp while out hunting all day? Other than concerns of predators, I would be more worried about them either getting all tangled up, or getting loose and disappearing while you're out hunting.

I will be retiring next year, and my plans are to spend the entire archery elk season in the mountains, hunting and moving around as necessary to find game. I'll stay on the mountain until the season ends, or a tag out. Whatever it takes. More than likely, I will be hunting solo most of the time.

Any insight anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.

[Chesapeake]

Never hunted elk with mine, just deer. We highline ours in camp while we hunt. Critters arent usualy too scared of them, some are even curious, but they will draw attention to you.

They dont exactly follow along in an orderly manner unless you are moving steady. If you stop or slow they will mill about eating and having little pushing matches working out the pecking order.

In otherwords; you wont be able to stalk with them in tow, and if you highline where they can see you they will likely talk to you.

[mrgreenhead]

go to the packgoat forum there is a good huning forum over there

[Ragnarok Forge]

I hunted with a buddy who owned about a dozen of them. He owned French Alpine Goats and all he had to do was stake out the lead nanny and the rest stayed close to her.  He never took them with him hunting / stalking outside of camp.  He also had a very large German Shepherd that was trained to stay with and protect the goats.  Cougars and Bears think they make really nice snacks.  Coyotes will go after them too.  

I doubt Elk would get excited about seeing goats near them.  Deer sure don't and the elk we were chasing never seemed to be bothered by them.  

They definately make your load a lot lighter and will eat just about anything they find so packing food won't be necessary.  Good clean water is a must at least twice a day for them.

[The Night Stalker]

I am suppose to pick up 4 saanen kids a few days old. The dairy owner will bottle feed them colostrum for the first few days then I have to bottle feed them until weaned. Have the does picked out, waiting to see what they have in March. I bought a book online, the pack goat by John M. go to Northwest pack goats online or summit pack goats in Neb. There are training tips and links to fouums.