Rag Horn definition
10-06-2009, 08:52 AM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Posts: 1,401
I've always defined a "raghorn" as a smallish brow tined bull. Generally with 4 points or less on one side, but if a 5x5 bull had really small antlers (narrow spread, thin tines) then I would probably call it a raghorn too.
I would say they would typically represent a 2 1/2 year old animal. At 3 1/2 most should be solid 5x5's.
I would say they would typically represent a 2 1/2 year old animal. At 3 1/2 most should be solid 5x5's.
10-06-2009, 01:43 PM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Elizabeth Colo. USA
Posts: 4,413
A young bull elk can have a spike, a "fork" horn, 3 ponits, and on up. I've seen many "rag" horned 5x5's. My uncle shot one several years ago that didn't have a 24" spread and spindley little 'ol points. Rag horns are young bulls, and what they have on their heads is an indication of the genetics that their daddy carried.
10-06-2009, 04:07 PM
#8
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location:
Posts: 120
I consider a raghorn a young immature bull. I have seen what I would consider a raghorn 5 point many times. They are very small and carry absolutely no mass or main beam length.
But I do not know what the official definition would be. I always thought it was just a slang term for immature bull. I have seen some impressive mature 4 points that I would not consider a raghorn.
But I do not know what the official definition would be. I always thought it was just a slang term for immature bull. I have seen some impressive mature 4 points that I would not consider a raghorn.
10-06-2009, 08:43 PM
#9
Fork Horn
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location:
Posts: 191
My group calls a rag horn an elk with a fork, no brows. spike=1, raghorn=2, then we go by points 3x3, 4x4, 5x5, 6x6. If the 5x5 is small, we just call it a small 5x5. a 3x3 and 4x4 are implied to be young and small.
A fork horn and a small 5x5 are too dissimilar to apply the same name, so we do it this way.
Albeit, many regulations define it this way...
A legal Raghorn Bull is a bull elk having no broken points or antler beams that display a maximum of four (4) points on either antler beam. The end or terminating tip of the main antler beam is counted as one (1) of the maximum four (4) points.
A fork horn and a small 5x5 are too dissimilar to apply the same name, so we do it this way.
Albeit, many regulations define it this way...
A legal Raghorn Bull is a bull elk having no broken points or antler beams that display a maximum of four (4) points on either antler beam. The end or terminating tip of the main antler beam is counted as one (1) of the maximum four (4) points.
Last edited by GreatHunterWannabe; 10-06-2009 at 08:46 PM.
10-08-2009, 06:26 AM
#10
Typical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 510
Rag horn by most is judged by number of points, 4 or less. Another way of looking at it is a juvenile or teenager. A bull at 1 yr old could have a spike or forks, a two year old could have up to 4pts, a 3 year old could be a 5pt, most bulls can't get to the 5pt range until 4yrs of age and after that any number of points could happen. Most bulls don't get full mass with points until after their 6th year of life. So rags are young bulls.
