Bushwalk Australia

I think this is great
Hiking with 'pack-goats'

http://www.highuintapackgoats.com/

Pack goat links
http://www.highuintapackgoats.com/links.html

I notice that "dogs and other pets" are not allowed in parks in Tasmania, but these are obviously not pets are they?
They would be ideal for those off-track walks where you need to b(eat) your way through the scrub.

Interesting use of the good old goat.

Not sure how they'd go in our scrub though MrWalker?

This eat and run behavior will decrease as the goat tires after a couple of miles. Most goats file in behind you, plodding steadily along on the trail.

Looks like you are supposed to lead the way and with horns like some of those fellas I'd guess they'd might not like our Bauera and other tangled scrub.

You would want them well tied up at night. And out of reach of the tent.

MrWalker wrote:They would be ideal for those off-track walks where you need to b(eat) your way through the scrub.

Or should that be 'bleat' your way through scrub?

And yeah I can't see NPWS being too keen on people bringing goats into a NP.
I read something kind of funny on how to get rid of lantana (or how to make the roots accessible). The suggestion was to plant choko vines in amongst the lantana, and then stock it with pigs (presumably fenced in, the article didn't really go into much detail) Pigs apparently go nuts for chokos, trample and eat down the lantana to get the chokos, and then you can dig out the roots (which doesn't sound like a fun occupation in inself though!).
Haha, maybe that's the solution to lantana choked ridges in NP's - infest them with choko vines as well, and let the feral pigs go silly
(JK JK)

I do like the idea of bringing a pack animal. Friends of mine used to take pack horses up to the Snowies over 20 years ago (pelleted feed so not to bring in grass seeds etc), but I doubt that can be done now. In the US I'm sure there's a whole subgroup of people that go hiking with alpacas. Lots of Americans seem to take their dogs on hikes, and there is a wide variety of dog packing equipment available. You sometimes see in tent descriptions' plenty of room for the backpack and my dog in the vestibule' etc

This one has removable handles, water carrier and a 'handle' to lift the dog up if needed
http://www.backcountry.com/ruffwear-palisades-pack-ii
Lots of stuff http://www.ruffwear.com/dog_packs
http://www.wolfpacks.com/products/dogpacks/
Haha, I wonder if they make Jack Russel sizes?

Found a you-tube vid of alpacas hiking.
Sorry it wouldn't let me upload properly, has to be just a link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIKyIdMbjCE

Found a few sites. Here's one. Llamas too.
http://www.soprisunlimited.com/alpaca.html

A guy called Owen Davies used pack goats for a walk he did from down the channel country from the top of Queensland to NSW.

Here's a link to an interview with him on ABC radio
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/201 ... 620857.htm

"trek down the Georgina River. With a mob of goats carrying his packs, Owen and his two dogs walked the distance over ninety-eight days."

I think he may have written a book too, but it's been a while since I listened to the story. Was a good story - worth a listen!

Haha, I wonder if they make Jack Russel sizes?

Ruffwears XXS size is tiny, almost too small for my mini-foxie X and she's a pretty small slim dog (I have their doggie lifejacket for her) so I'm sure you could get your Jack Russells fitted out as mini pack animals!

Hey some of our club members came across a guy with his "pack Goats" at Macalister Springs/Gantner Hut earlier this year. Apparently he was going along the AAWT for a bit.
It did not seem to worry him that his goats were not allowed in the Nat Park. I think some one followed it up with Parks Vic without too much of a worry from them about the issue....
Oh just re-read the club article about it and it was Owen.
Interesting guy.

[quote="just re-read the club article about it and it was Owen.
Interesting guy.[/quote]

He sounded like an interesting guy on the radio...very unassuming...
But i'm not sure about the goats in national parks, especially sensitive alpine country ??? Surely there's enough feral ones there already without taking domestic goats. Suppose it's no different to horse riders which are allowed in some parks, or a well controlled line of pack people in heavy boots...

" '...properly trained goats make strong, hardworking and disciplined pack animals, with an intelligence and loyalty that rivals dogs’."

http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/tr ... ef=general

Old post, but just randomly did a search on the forum, not expecting to find anything on pack goats, but I did!
I pick up my 2 x goat babies in early October, long term goal of using them to pack (in non National Park areas ). Although, having said that, I checked with the Bicentennial National Trail and ACT, NSW and QLD departments have permitted the use of goats as pack animals.
I am a recently reformed horse addict and presume that a goats will have less impact out on the trail than my horses did, as they don't poo out weed seeds and don't churn up the ground so much. A whole lot cheaper and less fuss than a horse too. I swear when pack saddling in the past, most of the stuff I had to carry was BECAUSE I had a horse, not really in aid of lightening my load at all.

Anyhoo, a long term goal of mine and an interesting way to occupy my time trying to be a goat whisperer.

Ms_Mudd wrote:I checked with the Bicentennial National Trail and ACT, NSW and QLD departments have permitted the use of goats as pack animals.

Fair dinkum? Goats through the Jagungal, Namadgi and Wollemi wilderness?

A bloke mentioned to me last week that 'no-one can do the BNT anymore', due to many property owners not allowing access.

The BNT webpage was up-dated 14 August 2018 to state; BNT strongly advises Trekkers and especially animal trekkers NOT TO procede with any trek on the BNT. The water and feed situation along the BNT from the southern border of NSW/ACT up the entire trail of NSW and Qld is critical.

MartyGwynne wrote:It did not seem to worry him that his goats were not allowed in the Nat Park. I think some one followed it up with Parks Vic without too much of a worry from them about the issue....

The National Park Regulations (r5 definitions) for Victoria includes goats in the same class as horses. Anywhere a horse is allowed, a goat can go as well.
regulation 5 - horse includes any animal capable of being ridden or carrying a load;


The NP Act prohibits certain things in wilderness parks Sect 17 (1)
(1) The Secretary must ensure that in a wilderness
park—
(a) there are no roads, structures or installations;
and
(b) no commercial activity or development is
carried out; and
(c) there is no use of any form of motorized or
mechanical transport; and
(d) there is no use of any non-indigenous
animal; and
(e) there is no hunting.

You then have to read section 2 for the exemptions which does allow for deer stalking and other things with permission. The animal must also be under the immediate control of the owner or other person and not wandering.

Wow, that is amazingly good.

Alright, game on with getting my new goaties trained. It will be a few years before they can carry loads, but happy to look batpoo crazy going for walks in the meantime with them

That's novel, your food can walk itself in for those extended multi days, save the knees.

Chunder fuzz wrote:That's novel, your food can walk itself in for those extended multi days, save the knees.

Goat curry?

Wollemi wrote:
The BNT webpage was up-dated 14 August 2018 to state; BNT strongly advises Trekkers and especially animal trekkers NOT TO procede with any trek on the BNT. The water and feed situation along the BNT from the southern border of NSW/ACT up the entire trail of NSW and Qld is critical.

Yes the drought is just terrible. That is why I parted ways with horse ownership in February. I 'tapped out' as I just could not justify feeding large animals that saw not enough work/fun to justify the outlay. Hence, goats! They drink very little and don't need extra feed packed in, and unlike horses, won't poo out weed seeds and contaminate areas.

I have been pretty impressed with them as animals in the time since I have had the two kids home. They are actually really sweet, friendly animals that just want to be with you. I have taken to walking them locally daily and leaving the dogs at home- the goats are less fusss

Back in 1993 I was on a bike trip through Grafton NSW, and came across a bloke with three donkeys headed north on a long trip, I was so impressed I even bought him/them a bag of oats!

Bet the guy with the donks appreciated your generosity, Rainbow Spirit.