Amy Grisak

Being your own pack animal sometimes takes the fun out of an otherwise excellent hunt.

“About 10 years ago I had to pack a bull elk out by myself in the (Missouri River) Breaks,” said Aaron Turner of Great Falls. He said he decided right then and there, “This isn’t going to happen like this again.”

Having experienced pack goats in action in Washington state, he thought that was the best direction to go. “Within a couple of weeks, I had them,” he said.

Turner chose the alpine dairy breed for his Montana pack string.

“The dairy breeds make better pack animals because they are not bred for muscle,” he explained. Bertram and Chester are his current two wethers, which are neutered males that eliminate many of the hormone-driven issues including a distinct smell at certain times of the season. They weigh 220 and 190, respectively, and stand nearly 3 feet tall at their back.



“Pound for pound they can pack more than any other pack animal,” Turner said. “You can get 60 to 70 pounds on each of them for a few miles. Four goats could pack out a bull elk.”

Plus, you can pack food and gear into camp you wouldn’t haul in on your own back. “I pack stuff in I wouldn’t have before,” he said, such as orange juice and other heavier items. When he and his son, Parker, went on a mountain goat hunt this fall, they were able to bring in everything they needed, including a few luxuries, on the two goats for their planned six to seven days in camp.

Turner also noted that some people choose does instead of wethers in order to have fresh milk in the backcountry.

While horses or mules are the traditional pack animals for many hunters and are the most popular method to travel longer distances in the back country, they require a lot of care throughout the year. They also increase the risk factor, especially when hunting alone in remote regions. As many horse owners know, a mis-step or surprise, such as a flushed grouse, can turn a textbook hunt into an expensive flight to the hospital.

“We’ve run into bears, and they just don’t get rattled,” he said.

Since he often hunts alone, this is one reason Turner opted for the goats. He also thought goats would be a good fit because they are easy to keep.

“Really, the maintenance is very low. You can feed four goats for one horse,” he said. They are not fussy when it comes to which cutting of hay they prefer, and if you have any land with noxious weed or brush issues, the goats are more than happy to clean up the problem for you.

Requiring only 100 square feet per animal, they don’t require extensive housing, although Turner said you do have to build good fences. They will test everything, plus they can jump up on structures. He said he came home one day to find a goat on top of their little goat house. The wether had jumped the 10 feet from a play structure in the pen all the way to the roof. It’s all a big game to them, so you have to stay one step ahead.

To haul them to your hunting or hiking area, Turner said some people put them in the back of a pick up with a topper on it. He has a small stock rack for them, or will sometimes bring along the stock trailer. They can sleep in there at camp at night if it will be cold.

Even out on the trail, the goats don’t require as much care as a horse or mule. They are champion eaters who can find their own food, so you typically don’t have to pack in feed, plus finding water is not nearly as critical as with horses.

Turner said as long as you help keep them dry, they stay warm because they have hair similar to a deer with a warm undercoat.

“I do have goat coats,” he said of the waterproof and insulated outerwear he uses on them in inclement weather. But he notes the goats are exceptionally hardy.

One of the best aspects about goats is they can go where horses or mules can’t.

“One thing that’s nice about these things is they go where we go,” Turner said.

Turner’s son, Parker, drew a coveted mountain goat tag for the Crazy Mountains this season, so they took Chester and Bertram to pack them 8 miles into camp. Making it to camp is the easy part.

“It’s the toughest hunt you can do,” said Turner. “It’s really rough country.”

Scrambling up rock slides and making their way through the realm of the mountain goat is something a horse or mule could never do, but the goats just followed along, without a lead.

The goats are also alert to their surroundings without being spooked, and Turner said many times they spot something before the people notice.

After a few days into the hunt, they spotted a mountain goat that was lower on the mountain, and after reaching the area, Parker took his shot.

At 13, he succeeded in an incredible hunt that is the dream of many lifetime hunters, and their trusty goat companions did the hard work of packing out the meat.

“I was really excited,” said Parker. He noted that the hunt was more challenging than he originally anticipated, but he was very happy to have a successful hunt.

Goats are unique because they haul out whatever you need on the specially made sawbuck saddles, while being excellent companions.

“They’re very smart. I just read that they’re every bit as smart as a dog,” Turner said.

The goats also love to be around people. Parker sometimes will lean back and use one of the goats as a pillow.

“It makes it a lot easier,” said Parker. “It also makes it a lot more fun because they can be funny.” They push each other around, and just seem to have a good time.

“I had one that could open a tent (with his lips,) said Turner. “If he wasn’t staked out or high-lined, he’d crawl in bed with you.”