Just curious if there are any resident pack goat experts on our board. I am considering buying a herd, as I am tired of hassling with horses in the wilderness. I am also a hunter, and like the idea of them being able to follow me to less accessible places. Any tips? How much should I expect to pay for started or trained 2-4 year old wethers? How 'bout using does in the string? Any breeds/crosses you favor? Thanks, Charlie

-- Charlie (webducks@uswest.net), March 10, 2002

Answers

Charlie, check out and message these people. Great site and you will enjoy it! What fun, you are going to have a great time! LQ http://www.goatpacking.com/

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), March 10, 2002.

Charlie, we have pack goats and yes you can pack the does. Wethers get bigger and can pack more and you don't have to worry about the udders get snagged on brush. :) There are groups of pack people all over. What area are you in?

-- shari (smillers@snowcrest.net), March 10, 2002.

Not since I got married, sorry, I just couldn,t resist!!!!

-- Stephen Coffman (marine3@alltel.net), March 10, 2002.

charlie:

we are interested in raising/training one for this purpose specifically ourselves! we've never done it though.

i'm curious if you could train a BUCK for this purpose instead of a wether....then he would actually have more than one purpose (it just strikes me how the buck itself isn't good for much but one thing.....and this thing is so crucial.......)

-- marcee (thathope@mwt.net), March 11, 2002.

Use a buck? During hunting season? Hmm, what is wrong with the picture of a buck packing meat in the fall...

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), March 11, 2002.

yes you can pack does ,in fact not a bad idea, milk on the hoof , ready to serve :)

easy to train the babies, yeah darn bucks, i keep telling my does to only have girls,, but they dont listen ......

i like Saanens , and i like Boer crosses,the boers get REALLY big, but take 3 years to get there, the Saanens grow up big, and are a bit more " people friendly"

the last pack goat we sold was a 10 month old trained wether , and we sold him for $200... of course if he were full grown we would have sold him for about 100 more

-- Beth Van Stiphout (willosnake@hotmail.com), March 13, 2002.

Gotta love the smell of a "pack-buck" during breeding season. :o) lol!

-- Sharon in AL (sharonspaws@aol.com), March 13, 2002.