I couldn't help myself from replying to your posts.
I've had horses, llamas, and goats. I've also rented horses, so I think I have a good knowledge base to draw from.
The llamas are the worst choice in my opinion. They stink, and if they decide they don't want to go, you will have a hard time getting them to move.
I packed into H several years back with one and had a little trouble getting him to go. I owned him, and he trained all summer, but when it came to the real deal he balked on the trail.
I also have to tell you llamas can and do get tangled in the ropes when you tie them in camp.
I was having a nap one day during a howling storm when I faintly heard some grunting. I finally realized it was my llama. I jumped up and went over to the tree he was tied to and found him upside down with the rope around his legs, and his neck was inside it too. He was having a hard time breathing, and had I not been there, he may have cashed it in right there.
I don't like llamas, and after 5 different ones, I don't think I"ll ever be needing another one to hunt with.
The goats are good, and I liked them, but it takes several of them to get the job done. If you ever take a friend or hunting partner, you need even more of them.
I owned a few horses, and a mule. They were good, but they weren't awesome. Now that I've had more experience, I know what kind of horse I need to pack on, and what kind of bullshit I won't tolerate with a horse.
I rented a couple of horses and packed into Colorado to the high country a couple of years ago. The horses were absolutely bombproof. One of them was slower than the other one, and we had to wait a little for him to keep up, but we did 13 miles in and out without a problem. The guy we rented from rented us a pannier that slipped over the saddle so we could ride the horse in, and pack our stuff with us. We had been backpacking, so we just put our backpacks and food in the panniers and rode in.
We are lightweights anyway, so the horses didn't even mind having the 225 lbs on them.
The difference between average horses, and bombproof horses is the whole advantage to having a good trip with no problems.
I think if I had to choose, I would rent a single horse, and go in light like I was backpacking so I could ride the horse in to save my legs. I'd talk to the rental guy and tell him I wasn't the most experienced horseman, and be honest with him. Ask him if he can get you his most bombproof gentle, no b.s. horse. He knows what everyone of them will do in any situation. If you aren't comfortable riding it, I'd lead it in with all my gear in the panniers. Then you'll have an animal that can and will pack out the animal you kill.
Good horses are awesome, and the rental guys normally have VERY good stock because they can't afford to have problems with them.
I own a couple of mini excavators that I rent out, and the problems I have are because of the idiots that rent them, not because of the machines. It's the same with horses. Most rental guys know they will be renting them to idiots about half the time, so they have to have extremely good stock to prevent as many problems as they can to spare them the idiot factor problems.
I'm sure you could rent goats, or llamas that are extremely well trained as well, and you could have a great trip with them too. I just don't see any reason to rent something that can't pack me in, and my trophy out.
Good luck on the hunt.
