Packing Elk quarters with Llamas.

npaden

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I've been doing some reading on using Llamas to pack and it sounds pretty interesting.

One big question I have though is for packing out an elk the hind quarter would be right at the limit of what a Llama would be capable of carrying even if it was skinned and deboned. For even weight distribution would you need to halve the quarter and put half of it on each side in panniers to balance the load or could you just pack it whole on the Llama's back?

Sounds like 2 skinned front quarters deboned from the knee down would be right at the limit for most Llamas as well.

The other issue for me would be deadfall. I'm guessing it would take LOTS of extra time to get through deadfall if you had to lead the Llama around every fallen tree if it would even be possible in some areas. If a person can straddle the downed tree would a Llama be able to jump over it?

Thanks, Nathan
 
Why waste your time with llamas? Get yourself some good pack horses or mules. Only yuppie back packers use llamas haha
 
I think I've read everything on your site, and all the threads in the archives as well as several other websites and didn't see anything specifically addressing those two questions.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-19-11 AT 06:35PM (MST)[p]I have packed elk deer and sheep on llamas, just bone the rear quarters out, take a scale and even the weight up, if they are in shape 80 lbs or a bit more total is about max. Much more than horses or mules do llamas need exercize to get or stay in shape. They are good jumpers, and they are a lot easier than horses to take in deadfall areas.
 
We used to run into an ol' boy in Wyoming that had Llamas. He was in his late 70's, hunted alone for moose with only his 3 llamas. They were mean as sh!t but they got the job done for him.


Traditional >>>------->
 
Your best bet is to bone the elk. Once boned out, you can distribute the meat from even a good sized bull between two llamas. I've packed lots of elk on llamas. Yes, you need to distribute the meat between both panniers.

Llamas are pretty decent jumpers, and can get through deadfall and thick jack pine that would stop a horse. Jumping anything over belt high and you are asking for trouble, however.

Bill
 
Nate---

If you are going to own them...you can train and condition them for just about anything you want.

They are very strong and durable pack animals.

As you can see in many of the photo's, boned out everything and it cuts the pack weight dramatically.

An 80lb hind 1/4 becomes a 35-40lb hind 1/4 with the meat boned off..... 1 in each side pannier.....80lb load...

I have packed front 1/4 unboned now and them....

Keep in mind the llama's are only in as good of shape/condition as you are because you are the one hiking/training them.

I did noticed that after being tethered out at 25 feet restriction for a 6-7 day hunt trip that we could load them up a little heavy----say 100lbs each including top load, and they had no problem heading off the mountain and home to the pasture with the extra weight.

I think you live a little 'south' of me and Bill or you could swing by and see first hand....

Robb
 
Back in the 90's, before we upgraded to horses and mules, my uncle used LLamas for a few years for packing out elk. It usually took two to three llamas to pack out an elk 5-6 miles up the trail.

They worked great for going over deadfall, but were stubborn to lead sometimes. I don't miss them and enjoy our horses and mules more. But, can't say anything too bad about how the llamas packed out animals, they did a good job.
 
I have always toyed around with the idea of using llamas and possibly renting them. Does anyone know of any places to rent them or cost in Central Utah?
About 15 years ago we used some from the Hare Krishnas in Spanish Fork for a Timpanogas trip but the gentleman came along with us, so it was free. Since then I have lost contact with the guy.


"Half of being smart, is knowing what you're dumb about."
 
Hard to believe that they could rent two animals and the tack for $180 a week, but that's what the website says their rate is! If I was hunting anywhere up in their part of the country, I would seriously consider giving them a call.
 
Called them and that's what it is. Not a bad deal at all. I think I will do a few spring/summer trial runs just to make sure I want to use a llama. That way I know what I am getting into.
 
Dr___H no doubt if you get with them early summer you most prolly could spend some time down there and get to choose your 2 pack animals to rent and work out some kind of deal that you could go on some type of wknd test run with them and you---

You can hardly stay at a campground for a week for $180!!

Hope it works out for ya.

Robb
 
Thanks for the input everyone.

I am going to apply for an area that will be pretty remote this year and was trying to think through my options on getting in and out of there. Getting myself in and out isn't ever the problem, but hauling an elk out sure can be a chore.

I will look into some of the rental options in southern Colorado and maybe try them out sometime this summer.

I live on 51 acres so upkeep on having my own would be pretty low other than I would have to actually put a fence up but I've wanted to do that for a while now.

I've thought about horses and mules and someday that might be an option as I get older, but for now it seems like they would be more work than they would be worth. The llamas seem like they would be fairly maintenance free, but I'm sure they would take plenty of time and effort to get in good shape.
 
The panniers MUST be balanced, and everything rides better if you keep the center of gravity low on the animal (but not below mid-rib or so). The easiest way to accomplish this is to sub-divide and bone out as described above. The biggest pain I have to pack is my cylinder stove- kinda tough to split down the middle... You should be able to get a decent raghorn out 7-10 miles on 2 llamas with no problems at all. Bigger mature bulls for the same miles will take 3 for minimal problems.

Deadfall can be jumped or led-around, full or empty, singly or in pack string formation, so a lot of combinations depending on the severity of the log and how many logs/mile.(and the skill level of your string) In many conditions the lesser of 2 evils is to pack the meat on your back to decent conditions for your animals. But it is a judgement call depending on your allergic reaction to hard labor!

Don't ignore having a nice light chainsaw on top of your lead llama and just whack on thru (cover the blade for his safety. Do NOT jump over the typical log across trail where hikers have kicked off the upward pointing limbs leaving sharp upward pointing stubs.

Go with someone for a trip or two that knows what they are doing into real world conditions, it'll pay off for you but even more for the sake of your string!

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The only thing I might add is the fact they walk slow, I always had to slow my pace down a bit when leading llamas, I have horses now but had llamas for years, and actually I miss them a lot of times.
 
How do they do off trail and on steep terrain? Do they get rubs from the packs on going up or down steep terrain. I want to buy some for back country bow hunting deer. Will any Llama work and what is one looking at for total costs, Llama and pack supplies? Thanks if anyone knows.
 
I have to agree, be prepared to walk slower than normal and have to pull the the animal up the hill at times :) They work, better than using a back pack, just not my favorite way to pack an animal out. It is even more exciting to take them on a 60 mile scout trip and let the scouts pull and get pulled around by the Llamas, not that is a good time.
 
All you guys with comments that generalize seem to think that every llama is a carbon copy of the others (fast slow,, weak out-of-shape, strong in-shape) truth is they are all different and you have to learn your string.

My 16 yr old leader (Lester) is the two-time defending champ of the world at the Fairplay llama race. 3 miles (+/-) at 38 min and change last year at 10.5K feet elevation including pack install in the time.

My red-headed step child llama will lay down at the sight of a bird flying over and stay there all day unless you make his stay uncomfortable.

And the others fall somewhere in between, most favoring to the good side. I pack with 7 in formation and it is great to walk in camp, hunt, kill, and walk out, carrying nothing but a rifle and a rope. On a fine Oct day with the leaves in fall color it does not get any better.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-24-11 AT 07:21PM (MST)[p]Good off trail on steep terrain? Above timberline type stuff? I used pack goats once and they could not hold enough weight.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-24-11 AT 07:59PM (MST)[p] Im sure they can't go where goats can, but they can go up some pretty steep terrain, about like a good horse or mule, but being smaller they are more tractable. Of course they can't cross big boulder fields, although you can work them around in some pretty tough places. I packed my brothers Mnt Goat out with mine once. There is lots of above timberline country in the Andes
 
They go any place most any 4 legged animal can go.

I have had mine on Mnt. Goat hunts and Ram hunts and High Country Muley hunts.

They packout whatever is harvested and whatever the terrain.
I always load the high side pannier first in super steep terrain.

Keep in mind they are on a lead rope behind you as you lead them....make sense?

Robb
 
Thanks guys for the info. How much does one usually cost to get setup. Panier (not sure if spelled right), lead rope, harness and animal. How much hay does one eat a month about? Thanks for your answers as I am real serious about getting a couple this summer.
 
I would go with Wes Holmquist out of Idaho.
He was in Pocatello but now is over by Preston.

Or----

See if any of the owners that have posted here have any available.

Or.....

I would go to a place that rents 'em and see what they have available for sale as those may have a quirk or two that might not work as Rentals but be perfect for a guy that wants to spend time with them and train 'em.

Say with all gear $800---$1000 trained/experience packer 3 years old type deal.

Hay for my 4-5 llama's any given year was like $25.00 a month/5-6 bales....... bag of grain to supplement during those really bitter cold days/nights in winter.

Shots once a year in the spring-----$20-$25 each as I had a vet do them when he did Dads horses at the same ranch call fee....
Ivomec Plus and 8-Way that was it.

Ya should trim the toe nails once a year but I found if I took the 'Parade Route' right out of the corrals down thru the new subdivision, on the paved road------the pavement would trim down the toe nails on the Llama enough that I wouldn't have to trim 'em...much....

Robb
 
Some for sale in Lucernce Valley Ca for $150 I think they have 5 listed in Craigslist(inland empire under farm)

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
 

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