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Pack Out an Elk With Goats
Pack goats for hunters
The goats carry the elk. You carry the rifle.
A boned-out bull is 200 pounds and up. Four trained pack goats bring it out in one trip, follow you off-leash, feed themselves on the mountain, and fit in the back of a truck. Marc Warnke wrote the book on it. Here's the math, the gear, and the three rules.
Shop the pack-out system
The pack-out math
A healthy, conditioned adult pack goat carries 20 to 25 percent of its body weight. Start there and the rest is arithmetic.
| Goat | Carries per trip | For a 200 lb bull |
|---|---|---|
| 200 lb wether | 40 to 50 lb | Four or five goats, one trip |
| 170 lb wether | 35 to 42 lb | Five or six goats, one trip |
| Three goats total | 120 to 150 lb | Two trips, or share the load with your own pack |
Percentages follow the common guideline for conditioned adult goats on moderate terrain. Young goats, out-of-shape goats and steep country mean less per animal.
Three rules Marc packs by
Weigh every load. Hang each pannier on a scale. A pair that's off by a few pounds rolls the saddle on the first sidehill.
Young goats carry less. A two-year-old isn't a four-year-old. Build them up over seasons, not over a weekend.
Short a goat means two trips. Plan the string for the animal you're hunting, not the one you hope to find.
The pack-out system
Designed by Marc Warnke and sold by Pack Goats in Boise, Idaho. Add straight to cart from here.
Critter Getter Panniers (pair)
$259.99
Marc's signature hunter's pannier. 1000D Cordura, roll-top closure, 6,400 cubic inches a pair, colored loops for weighing and pairing.
Hardcore Pannier Set
$339.29
Waterproof, heavy duty, for when the weather turns on you.
Signature Series Saddle
$495.99
Co-designed by Marc Warnke and Matt Lyon. Fully adjustable to the goat's back. Under 7 pounds.
Made to order. We'll email you when yours ships.
Highline Kit, 6 goat
$168.79
Pre-rigged camp tethering. Clip between two trees and the string is tied in two minutes.
Pannier Goat Scale
$9.99
The ten-dollar tool that keeps a saddle from rolling. Weigh both sides, every load.
Pack Goats Made Simple
From $26.50
Marc's book. Start here if you're deciding whether goats are for you.
What hunters say
"Packgoats.com is the foremost destination for all things goat. From on-site pack goat training to baby goats and gear, they produce the most athletic and capable pack goats I've ever seen."
Ron Griener
"From the kidding stage to fully grown pack goats, Packgoats.com has been incredibly helpful. The care, the gear, and the support are all next level, and it holds up in the harshest conditions."
Cole Cheney
"Marc's knowledge is unmatched. He supported me through every challenge and made sure I had every tool I needed. There is no one better to get pack goats from, hands down."
Spencer Ernst
The questions hunters ask first
What about predators?
Goats stay with you and sleep tethered on a highline at camp. Most hunters who run goats in bear and lion country carry what they'd carry anyway and keep the string close. If you want the full method for building and running a string, that's Pack Goat 101.
Can I take goats into bighorn sheep country?
Some units and public lands restrict or prohibit domestic goats near wild sheep because of disease concerns. Check the rules for your unit before you go, and follow the North American Packgoat Association's best practices: keep goats leashed or highlined, never let them stray, and don't bring a goat that's sick.
How far will a goat walk in a day?
A conditioned goat walks what you walk. Experienced packers routinely cover ten miles a day with loaded adults on a trail. Condition them through the summer the way you'd condition yourself.
How old before a goat can carry meat?
Most packers wait until three to four years old for full loads. Younger goats can walk with you and carry a light saddle to learn the job.
Do I need the course if I'm just buying gear?
No. But most saddle problems are fit problems, and most trail problems are training problems. Pack Goat 101 covers both: gear, fit, training and running a string, in 25-plus lessons.
Questions about fit or sizing? Call Marc at (208) 867-6675 or email hello@packgoats.com. He's not a vet, but he's loaded more goats than most.
