very few people other than guides pack in hay (but if you do, it MUST be certified weed free)

most of us pack in cubed hay or something like it...but word of caution here...start introducing it slowly to the horses a week or two before...Horses have werid and VERY sensitive digestive systems...last thing you want is a horse to founder in the back country...


for us, we usually pack in about 4-6 critters...and then pack in about 2-3 bags (50lbs.) of hay cubes...and that lasts us about 5-6 days...which is usually the time frame to get first critter, adn then pack in more food and garbage out...

we spend about 1-2 hours a day letting the hroses eat off hi line...so they get plenty of grass while in back country...

if you dont take care of them, they cant take care of you...

well the trip went well. as i said i wasnt able to hunt this year but done the calling. they both missed elk and one guy missed a great mullie.It bummed them out and we came home a little earlier than planned. It was there first time out and never expected it to be so tough!!!the horses done better than i figured they would. never had a problem getting us around at all. the only thing that bothered us was they wouldnt drink all the way out or for the first day there. we had 40 gallons of water from home that they are used to drinkin and tried 4 times on the way out but they wouldnt take it. Finally on the 3rd day they decided water wasnt so bad and never had any more problems. If you have ever thought of taking your horses out with you i would deffinatly say go for it. they got us in deep and we were fresh and ready to go when we got in elk. I have never had my legs feel so good after a elk hunt!!! also as for hay we stayed at the truck and rode in everyday. we used certified hay from a guy in durango @ $8 bale.