Definition of a raghorn

[undercover]

Is a raghorn by definition a young bull with small or thin antlers or is it antlers that just aren’t quite symmetrical, or is it just a bull with antlers that are not appealing to the eye of the beholder? I hear this term in so many hunting episodes. Being a Midwest whitetail guy I am just trying to understand all the lingo of western elk hunting. Hek, Not that long ago I learned what a scree field is, along with knobs benches and saddles. Some might just take all that for granted. Applied for my first western hunt and just trying to learn all I can.

Thanks in advance!

 

[jvanhoy]

I think in most cases just a younger not mature bull. Comparable to a 4 or 6 point deer.

 

[jvanhoy]

Mine from last season. Probably 2 1/2

 

[johnrr65]

Mine from last season. Probably 2 1/2

+1

 

[Art Vandeley]

A guy I used to work with called them “brush heads,” but he’s the only one I’ve heard use that term. I think jvanhoy’s description is spot on

 

[Hem]

Symmetrical 5 x 5 is a 5 pt.
Anything less is a raghorn.
In my circle anyhow.

 

[AvidIndoorsman]

Technically these are the definitions... although the later are archaic: 1pt = spike, 2-5pts=Rag horn, 6pt = Royal, 7pt= Imperial, 8Pt = Monarch

 

[Gerald Martin]

To me a rag horn is a 2 1/2- 3 1/2 year old bull. Bigger than a spike but not a mature bull.

 

[Southern Elk]

I called this one a raghorn. The guy at the check station aged him at 3.5 years old.

 

[diamond hitch]

Southern Elk- nice jungle. Good job!

 

[brockel]

Raghorn

 

[ida homer]

I’m done shooting chewy raghorns. Cow, spike or big 6. Happy as a clam with any of those 3!

 

[Southern Elk]

Southern Elk- nice jungle. Good job!

I shot him in the open, but they always seem to pick the thickest spot to die.

 

[Big Sky Guy]

Aged this raghorn as 2 at the lab. In my experience 1 year old is a spike, 2 year olds are rag horns 3-4 is going to be a small bull that most guys will be satisfied with (5-6 point 250”-270”).

 

[Trial153]

A raghorn is bigger than a spike and smaller than a five by

 

[diamond hitch]

Horns can vary. Over the years I've killed two calves that had 10" spikes. One year I killed a yearling that was a 4x5 and was in velvet the last day of the season.
I have always just lumped those mis- shaped thin boned racks as raghorns.

For age - rough technique look a the ivories. Calf - none. Yearling - hollow ivories. Third year - solid ivories but no color. Between 4 and 5 they start to show a little color. After that you start to see flattening (wear) and good color.

 

[Rancho Loco]

If it doesn't make you mutter "holy shit", its a raghorn.

 

[AvidIndoorsman]

Still a raghorn 290-300 in

 

[rwc101]

If your buddy shot it and it's smaller than your's it's a raghorn.

 

[Gerald Martin]

View attachment 130260
Still a raghorn 295-300 in

Whatever boomer.