IChaseCoues
Well-Known Member
Roy,
You building your own saddle and panniers? If so I'd like to see some pictures of the process.
You building your own saddle and panniers? If so I'd like to see some pictures of the process.
Pack Goats
- Thread starter adamsoa
- Start date
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royinidaho
Well-Known Member
Will do.
I'm figgerin' the packsaddle should fit the goat. Most suppliers say that they have never had a sore goat. Hmmmmm. I bet they were never a goat....
A ready to sand and finish cross buck pack saddle can be purchased new for $64 plus shipping.
Would have had the "hunting" style panniers finished moments a go but bent a needle and the old geezer at the sewing machine sold me the wrong needles this afternoon.
A member in CO and I are PMing back and forth. He as 4 saddles on the market. Will see what they are and the asking price.
Butt-Head packgoats has a saddle and rigging for $100. If I weren't such a stickler for stuff I'd go that route.
Long range hunting has different requirements than simply hiking and packing. At least my way of doing it does.
royinidaho
Well-Known Member
It's been a busy week or so. Spent the week building the pack saddle. Found my skills with the table and miter saw suck so I shifted from cross buck to a Decker design.
Had to go through a steep leaning curve to get the pack hooks or whatever they are called (vs cross bucks) formed. Tried several methods and materials. Settled on 3/8" aluminum rod. Took many tries to get a jig rigged to do the bending. It worked out pretty well.
Oh, bought me another goat. This one is full grown. Bought it from a dairy goat show person. Thus is a doe. No one has mature whethers. She's hung like Marylyn Monroe. 'pose that will shrink. May have to get'r a jock. This one tapes out at about 190 pounds but is butter ball fat. I'm figuring to be able to comfortably pack 50# if needed and I made the saddle bars correctly.
The Decker is more difficult to build but more suitable to bulky loads. I'm figuring that its be carrying a bulky pack, with shooting mat/drag bag/rifle carrying case, bivvy, sleeping bag, freeze dried food and back pack stove.
If I sell the two little fellas, I'll get another full sized thing. I'm figuring 2 pack goats will get me through a couple of nights away from base camp. Plus I never harvest anything so packing out won't be a problem
For this one I used the plastic waste basket theme as I may, just may, need to pack some meat. Plus way easier to make.
Gonna do a field test this weekend. Should be quite the experience.
Had to go through a steep leaning curve to get the pack hooks or whatever they are called (vs cross bucks) formed. Tried several methods and materials. Settled on 3/8" aluminum rod. Took many tries to get a jig rigged to do the bending. It worked out pretty well.
Oh, bought me another goat.
This one is full grown. Bought it from a dairy goat show person. Thus is a doe. No one has mature whethers. She's hung like Marylyn Monroe. 'pose that will shrink. May have to get'r a jock. This one tapes out at about 190 pounds but is butter ball fat. I'm figuring to be able to comfortably pack 50# if needed and I made the saddle bars correctly.The Decker is more difficult to build but more suitable to bulky loads. I'm figuring that its be carrying a bulky pack, with shooting mat/drag bag/rifle carrying case, bivvy, sleeping bag, freeze dried food and back pack stove.
If I sell the two little fellas, I'll get another full sized thing. I'm figuring 2 pack goats will get me through a couple of nights away from base camp. Plus I never harvest anything so packing out won't be a problem
For this one I used the plastic waste basket theme as I may, just may, need to pack some meat.
Plus way easier to make.Gonna do a field test this weekend. Should be quite the experience.
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royinidaho
Well-Known Member
Grit, nothing like spreading a little humor. . . Well the initial field test wasn't so bad. Nothin' like it wooda been w/a horse. (I know nothing about horses either). Saddlin' up was no sweat. She simply ate russian olive leaves during the fun. It was l lot easier reaching over a goat for the cinch on the off side than reaching under a horse. Way less anxiety. . . My chinchas are too long. Need 16" vs 20" and 20 is the smallest this western town has to offer. Shooda put some sand in those plastic buckets. Did a bit of a romp when they started rattlin'. Not really much of a rodeo. Put couple of spades full of sand in each side and things settled. Took her a bit to learn her new width. Ran up the fence knocking a corner of of one of the expensive wally world buckets. After only a few minutes we were strolling down the road visiting neighbors. Who seem to think it was humorous. (My neighbors know me) Would have posted videos but the site went wonky. No icons work???? Looks like carriage returns don't work either.
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Idaho Sawyer
Well-Known Member
I was lucky enough to draw a mtn goat tag this year here in central Idaho. I have 2 Nubian/Alpines that are 3 1/2 yrs old that are coming with me. I'll let ya all know how they do, were leaving this weekend and be back mid next week. I have been exercising them quite a bit lately and I think they'll do fine but wont know till the trip is over......stay tuned
royinidaho
Well-Known Member
Good goin'!!! Kinda cool using goats to get a goat. Pics please....
IChaseCoues
Well-Known Member
Good luck Sawyer!
Roy,
The mini Decker looks like it should work. Did you sew the webbing with a regular sewing machine? I figured it would take an upholstery machine for that!
Roy,
The mini Decker looks like it should work. Did you sew the webbing with a regular sewing machine? I figured it would take an upholstery machine for that!
royinidaho
Well-Known Member
Yep it works but isn't really necessary. However, it's much nicer to tie to. My sewing machine is a Janome 521. Does a triple stitch which seems to hold up well on my shooting stuff. Its simple and tough as nails. Sews lighter leathers well. About $200.
Idaho Sawyer
Well-Known Member
royinidaho
Well-Known Member
Great!!!! Good lookin' goat country.
royinidaho
Well-Known Member
Did some goat trading. Swapped a small 2012 Saanan for a mature Alpine/Nubian cross. This sucker weighs around 200 lbs. Uglier than all get out but a great goat. One more trade and I'll be done. Have a 3 yr old registered Alpine doe that is a good packer. She's about 165 pounds. Have conditioned her to 35 pound load. Trust her enough to carry food and optics.
From my limited experience I'd say Saanans are the best for all around packing. Great temperament, great attitude. Alpines seem a bit flighty and have to stop to figure things out once in awhile. Saanens simply plod along. Both breeds seem to keep whatever pace I keep. Great for when you are in a hurry, which I most often am not.
Serious elk hunting starts on the 25th. I'm thinking that between me and two goats a full sized cow elk can be comfortably packed out when deboned. We'll see.
From my limited experience I'd say Saanans are the best for all around packing. Great temperament, great attitude. Alpines seem a bit flighty and have to stop to figure things out once in awhile. Saanens simply plod along. Both breeds seem to keep whatever pace I keep. Great for when you are in a hurry, which I most often am not.
Serious elk hunting starts on the 25th. I'm thinking that between me and two goats a full sized cow elk can be comfortably packed out when deboned. We'll see.
Idaho Sawyer
Well-Known Member
I am on the lookout for a big sanaan. If you come across one in your goat trading let me know.
Bullet bumper
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Necessity is the Mother of invention .
