New Land Use Plan Needs Comment

[packgoatlarry]

I'm not sure what the problem is with "weed free". I don't care for the rule because "certified weed free" usually means bad quality hay at twice the price, but I'm more irritated about that for my horses than my goats. This has been a rule in every wilderness area for so long that I really don't think this one has any hope of being treated differently. I think it would have to be a general policy change for all FS and BLM wilderness management wouldn't it?

The core issue here for a goat packer is that if you have to carry food for your animals, then there will be precious room for anything else. I go out for days at a time. I cannot carry enough feed for all that time as well as the things I need to camp out. It negates the whole point of having these animals in the first place. Regarding the rule, it was promulgated long before goats were a part of the packing scene. It is time to take another look at it, as goats do not fit with the rest of the pack stock as to their impact on the environment, and therefore should not be automatically lumped into the mix without the consideration of their overall place in the scheme of things.