OK how big is still a raghorn?

jameister · Sep 22, 2004

THis term is loosely used throughout the west. I have heard itfirst used in 1980 for a small two year old bull of fork or three point.. or any bull with uneven point counts or brokeoff points.. anything short of a mature balanced bull.

now it seems to be used for anything short of the herd bull by some...

what is a raghorn to you?

HullinPhx · Sep 22, 2004

I think it all depends on the heard itself, If there are 4 380 bulls in a heard then all the bulls from the little ones up to a few at 330 would be considered Rag Bulls to me

groundshrink · Sep 22, 2004

around my local it's a light horned four to six with no length to the beams or points. (Or it's when some lucky slob just harvested a dandy, and you can't resist seeing the look on his face when ya say "Jeez why'd you shoot that raghorn?"!"

gil_wy · Sep 22, 2004

Really small 5x5 and smaller.....

Hornseeker · Sep 22, 2004

Pencil horned, usually young bull, definitely not over 3 years old. a 330 is NEVER a raghorn to me, or to just about anyone I know. Matter fact, I would have to say anything over 240 cannot be a raghorn! :0)

SNYPER · Sep 22, 2004

TO ME A RAGHORN IS A 2-3 YR OLD OR A SMALL ANTLERED BULL
WITH NO MASS OR LONG TINES.
ANY BULL THAT IS NOT A HERD BULL BUT LOOKS LIKE HE COULD BE A HERD BULL, IS A SATELLITE BULL, TOO ME ANY WAY.

SNYPER >>>>----------------------->

chambero · Sep 22, 2004

Am I correct in understanding that most bull are a spike at 1 1/2 years old, a 4 pt at 2 1/2, 5 at 3 1/2, and 5+ from 4 1/2 on up.

Based on that assumption, I always assumed "raghorns" were 2 1/2 year old 4 pts.

ridgetop · Sep 22, 2004

Chamberos description is right on. There are some bulls that never grow that 6th point ever past their 5th or 6th year. Exeptions to every rule... Most people consider a raghorn a 3-4 per side point thin horned bull with short beams, and relatively short points that is about 2 1/2 years old.

austin · Sep 22, 2004

To me anything between a spike and a five point on both sides is a rag horn regardless of age of size.

Cazador · Sep 22, 2004

See:

http://www.pennsylvaniaelkherd.com/elk0003b.htm

BlackTimber · Sep 22, 2004

I have always considered a "raghorn" as a spindily short tinned 4 point or 5 point. And a "mature bull" is a 5 or better with either good mass or length or both.

A "herd" bull is simple. It's the biggest bull in the herd wether it be a 4 point "raghorn" or a Mature "herd" bull.

A mature bull will be about 5 years old at it's earlyest.

muledeerhunter1 · Sep 22, 2004

I would say anything that is smaller than a 4x4 is a raghorn. I shot a bull a couple of years ago that was a 4x4 and his horns were small and spinndly.

This year I took a bull that was a mature 6x6 approximately 4-5 years old. He was running with a herd of cows and there were smaller "raghorn" bulls on the outskirts trying to sneak in a little action. The bull gross 311P&Y and is in no way a monster. However, he was the bull of the woods in his neighborhood.

Cooter · Sep 22, 2004

An immature bull or a bull with a spindly rack that lacks mass pretty much sums it up.

Coot

Texas_Hunter · Sep 23, 2004

This is the bull I got last year with my bow. I consider him a raghorn, but being my first with a bow I was very happy.

kicker · Sep 23, 2004

WOW! A 340 bull being a raghorn. I guess i need to hunt in your areas. I say anything spindly with short length.

Montanahunter · Sep 23, 2004

An immature bull is a raghorn, we call them rafter bulls because that is where the antlers end up in the garage or barn.

Tbuck · Sep 23, 2004

A raghorn is any bull between a spike and what you consider to be the break off point of a trophy class bull. Be it a 300 or a 330 class. O ya just because an elk is 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 does not necessarily mean he will be a 4 or 5 point bull, some bulls at 2 1/2 can and sometimes do develop small framed 5 and 6 point antlers. But with age will develop tine length and mass with every passing year.

DonV · Sep 24, 2004

Texashunter, IMO your bull is barely a raghorn, from that size up I would not consider a raghorn.

jameister · Sep 24, 2004

If texashunters bull is a 4X5 its a raghorn, if its a symmetrical 5X5 its a small 5by5.

I found reference to the term because small immature bulls sometimes still have late season velvet strips hanging from ther antlers, makeing for the "rag" part of raghorn.

I used my last raghorn to give to an old knife maker, he said the solid firm small diameter antler made the best scales... not a bad trade for me.. better than useing rafter space!!

Jamiester