Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Clipboard guy on December 05, 2009, 09:13:44 PM

Title: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: Clipboard guy on December 05, 2009, 09:13:44 PM: As I talk to clients that come into the studio I hear different uses of the term "Raghorn".
Just out of curiosity what defines a raghorn to you?
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: wapiti hunter2 on December 05, 2009, 09:25:26 PM: Anything between a spike and a 5x5.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: jdb on December 05, 2009, 09:33:15 PM: a rag horn to me is a small branch antler bull that is either imature or of poor genetics, makes no difference the point count :dunno:
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: BrushChimp on December 05, 2009, 09:38:54 PM: :yeah:
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: olsy on December 05, 2009, 09:41:46 PM: Quote from: jdb on December 05, 2009, 09:33:15 PM
a rag horn to me is a small branch antler bull that is either imature or of poor genetics, makes no difference the point count :dunno:

+1
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: Kowsrule30 on December 05, 2009, 10:11:41 PM: Quote from: olsy on December 05, 2009, 09:41:46 PM
Quote from: jdb on December 05, 2009, 09:33:15 PM
a rag horn to me is a small branch antler bull that is either imature or of poor genetics, makes no difference the point count :dunno:

+1

X2
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: Alan K on December 06, 2009, 01:10:52 AM: Agreed.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: longstevo on December 06, 2009, 04:30:01 AM: Four points and below are raghorns, I think, except for spikes.

Then...they're spikes.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: billythekidrock on December 06, 2009, 05:31:33 AM: Quote from: jdb on December 05, 2009, 09:33:15 PM
a rag horn to me is a small branch antler bull that is either imature or of poor genetics, makes no difference the point count :dunno:

Yep.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: markts on December 06, 2009, 05:51:40 AM: Quote from: billythekidrock on December 06, 2009, 05:31:33 AM
Quote from: jdb on December 05, 2009, 09:33:15 PM
a rag horn to me is a small branch antler bull that is either imature or of poor genetics, makes no difference the point count :dunno:

Yep. Gets my vote too. Mark
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: bobcat on December 06, 2009, 08:12:06 AM: I saw a 7x7 that an archery hunter killed on the eastside this year that I would consider a raghorn. Yes it was that small. :o
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: buckmaster_wa on December 06, 2009, 08:37:14 AM: Quote from: wapiti hunter2 on December 05, 2009, 09:25:26 PM
Anything between a spike and a 5x5.

I have seen some huge 5pts that I wouldnt call raghorns.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: boneaddict on December 06, 2009, 08:44:12 AM: JDB nailed it. I have a five point shed that I would shoot the animal in a heartbeat. Man he was a brute.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: Shootmoore on December 06, 2009, 08:50:00 AM: Quote from: jdb on December 05, 2009, 09:33:15 PM
a rag horn to me is a small branch antler bull that is either imature or of poor genetics, makes no difference the point count :dunno:

:yeah:

Shootmoore
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: Craig on December 06, 2009, 09:07:16 AM: Raghorn 5X5

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv411%2Ftruck1%2F45f10c4033e7d9ba.jpg&hash=6654ba30cfa1ae4726477aade2b8f58755765b95)
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: lokidog on December 06, 2009, 09:11:40 AM: :yeah:

Seriously, jdb had it right.

Quote from: jdb on December 05, 2009, 09:33:15 PM
a rag horn to me is a small branch antler bull that is either imature or of poor genetics, makes no difference the point count :dunno:
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: whacker1 on December 06, 2009, 09:40:10 AM: jdb has it right

A friend shot a 4 point that was in regression. Probably pushing a 300 class 4 point.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: EastWaViking on December 06, 2009, 09:45:01 AM: Quote from: whacker1 on December 06, 2009, 09:40:10 AM
jdb has it right

A friend shot a 4 point that was in regression. Probably pushing a 300 class 4 point.

So a regressing 300 class 4 pt is a raghorn?
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: toe-jam on December 06, 2009, 09:50:04 AM: Seriously, jdb had it right.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: shoot-em-dead on December 06, 2009, 09:53:48 AM: I always thought a raghorn was a set or one side of antler on a young bull or buck that grew really funny and did not match. If the animal was mature it would be a non-typical.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on December 06, 2009, 09:57:20 AM: A 2 year old bull is a raghorn in my book. Most typically a small 3,4, or 5 point, I've seen a few 5x6 and 6x6, and one 6x7 raghorn. So I'll disagree with JDB to the extent I don't consider a mature bull with inferior antler development a raghorn. It is about age, not points.

I'm sure there are regional differences, based on typical antler growth for the area. In herds where yearling bulls commonly grow branched antlers, I consider those 2-pt yearlings or 3-pt yearlings - not raghorns.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: whacker1 on December 06, 2009, 09:57:46 AM: No, I was trying to illustrate that 300 class 4 point is not a raghorn.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: jdb on December 06, 2009, 11:00:44 AM: I have a matched set of 4 point elk horns that came from the cowiche that are pretty impressive, I think with a branch antler tag I would have killed him. I also have what maybe the smallest 6 point ever that I wouldnt dream of shooting
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: huntnphool on December 06, 2009, 11:11:42 AM: Anything M-Ray would shoot :rolleyes:
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: EastWaViking on December 06, 2009, 11:18:52 AM: Quote from: huntnphool on December 06, 2009, 11:11:42 AM
Anything M-Ray would shoot :rolleyes:

:chuckle:
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: alecvg on December 06, 2009, 11:23:05 AM: Quote from: jdb on December 05, 2009, 09:33:15 PM
a rag horn to me is a small branch antler bull that is either imature or of poor genetics, makes no difference the point count :dunno:

:yeah:
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: dbllunger on December 06, 2009, 11:34:05 AM: Yeah what he said +1 :yeah:
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: IBspoiled on December 06, 2009, 11:46:38 AM: Definition of a raghorn? Any bull smaller than my 2009 bull! :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: poohdog on December 06, 2009, 03:41:52 PM: I have also seen some 6x6's that I call raghorn bulls. I would love to see a pic of a 300 class 4x4 thats impressive.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: whacker1 on December 06, 2009, 04:05:41 PM: I would post, but I don't have permission
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on December 06, 2009, 04:08:40 PM: Quote from: alecvg on December 06, 2009, 11:23:05 AM
Quote from: jdb on December 05, 2009, 09:33:15 PM
a rag horn to me is a small branch antler bull that is either imature or of poor genetics, makes no difference the point count :dunno:

:yeah:

x2
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: Kowsrule30 on December 06, 2009, 04:10:05 PM: Quote from: whacker1 on December 06, 2009, 04:05:41 PM
I would post, but I don't have permission

Please.... I'm ok with it... :)
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: boneaddict on December 06, 2009, 05:02:38 PM: :chuckle: Thats not what I'd call a raghorn. LOL

This however is borderline, but I would consider him a raghorn. Probably a 3.5 year old bull
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2Fhard2.jpg&hash=279685c47e8e537632023eeea4326c24c19b5407)
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: boneaddict on December 06, 2009, 05:03:58 PM: This would be another example.....
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2F3rdhard.jpg&hash=37b813fbaa824e09fee924957179ffc63b94b526)
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: poohdog on December 06, 2009, 05:08:21 PM: I would agree with on those pictures. Thinned horned and short.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: runningboard on December 06, 2009, 05:34:20 PM: Quote
I have seen some huge 5pts that I wouldnt call raghorns.
I took a 5x5 a few years ago that most would have also taken. on the other hand I've gotten a 5x6 a few years ago that anyone would call a raghorn, tasted good though!
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: julzzz on December 06, 2009, 07:01:28 PM: I believe it depends on the person hunting the animal and what area? Someone that has hunted the Valleys of Western Washington may consider a nice 5x5 a nice herd bull. But on the other hand someone hunting the blues would consider this same bull a raghorn and pass him up. I guess its like politics and religion everyone has their own opinion and their own standards. Just my :twocents:
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: kramer on December 06, 2009, 07:18:15 PM: i consider a rag horn bull to be a bull scoring under 280. just my opinion. i think some bulls go there whole life being a rag horn. all in genetics.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: poohdog on December 06, 2009, 07:30:47 PM: A lot of hunters on the west side kill some nice bulls that don't go 280 and I wouldn't call them raghorns. They are very heavy 5x5's in the 260+ range.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: MLBowhunting on December 06, 2009, 07:38:08 PM: alot of bulls dont get a chance to grow up. The Eastside is producing some giants now with the permit only system which i think is one thing the game dept is doing right :chuckle: I also think any bull smaller then a 5pt is a raghorn in my mind but everyone is diff
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: letmhunt on December 06, 2009, 08:57:14 PM: Anything below 300 inches. :archery_smiley:
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: Mike450r on December 07, 2009, 07:59:57 AM: I always considered symmetry and appearance more than size when calling a bull a raghorn. A good looking small 4x4 or 5x5 was not called a raghorn in our camps just an immature bull, but a nasty uneven 2x3, 3x3, or even larger with no symmetry was a raghorn.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: Pathfinder101 on December 07, 2009, 11:33:18 AM: Quote from: wapiti hunter2 on December 05, 2009, 09:25:26 PM
Anything between a spike and a 5x5.

If he's got brow tines and he is less than a 5x5, he's a raghorn to me. I wold have checked 3x3 and 4x4 if we had been able to choose more than one option in the poll.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: steen on December 07, 2009, 01:32:40 PM: Regardless of points I think it is more to do with mass than anything. The 5 point in the picture was not a raghorn he was pretty heavy and a trophy for most units.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: coachcw on December 08, 2009, 06:59:13 AM: any main frame 6x6 thats less than 280 west and 300 east .
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: WAPITIHUNTER on December 08, 2009, 07:29:54 AM: Any bull that has run through some poor old ladies clothes line and gotten clothes all tangled in it's antlers. They eventually get all torn into rags.......hence the term "RAGHORN".

The term "RAGHORN" should actually be "RAGANTLER" as elk do not have horns but they do have antlers. :dunno: :chuckle:

Any spindly antlered bull. IMO.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: Clipboard guy on December 08, 2009, 10:47:54 AM: This has been really interesting reading everyones responses. Websters dictionary doesn't have a definition, so I guess it is up to the individual using the term. I've always had the impression of a smaller sized bull but nothing specific. Having guys come into the studio and describe different bulls got me thinking, so I had to ask on Hunt-WA.

So is it a negative term?

If someone was calling their spouse a raghorn I wouldn't even ask but what about for an elk?
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: Kowsrule30 on December 08, 2009, 11:07:32 AM: I wouldn't say it's negative.... Just what it is.... Any elk is a good elk... Just depending on the tag that you have and the area you are hunting on whether or not you let one fly.....
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: Gobble on December 08, 2009, 11:19:27 AM: Anything less than a 6pt
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: PolarBear on December 08, 2009, 11:23:37 AM: Quote from: jdb on December 05, 2009, 09:33:15 PM
a rag horn to me is a small branch antler bull that is either imature or of poor genetics, makes no difference the point count :dunno:
:yeah:
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: Dipsnort on December 08, 2009, 11:40:47 AM: Holy crap, and all this time I thought a raghorn was any bull from the Middle East. :P
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: Pathfinder101 on December 08, 2009, 02:33:06 PM: Quote from: Dipsnort on December 08, 2009, 11:40:47 AM
Holy crap, and all this time I thought a raghorn was any bull from the Middle East. :P

:chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: h2ofowlr on December 08, 2009, 10:51:23 PM: The Mt. Saint Helens herd. Usually a 2-6 point bull with the rack size of a BT deer. My brother in law shot a 5x5 that was about 17" wide and 16" tall. = Rag Horn.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: Aneoakleaf on December 08, 2009, 10:59:21 PM: my definition== every bull I've ever shot :'( :'( :'( :ACRY: :cryriver:
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: hoytem on December 09, 2009, 05:18:53 PM: i voted 4 point because there are some massive 5's out there.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: Pathfinder101 on December 09, 2009, 05:20:16 PM: Wow. This thread is enlightening. I thought everyone considered a raghorn to be a 3 or 4 point. Never realized there were so many varying definitions.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: SGM R on December 12, 2009, 09:06:38 PM: That's the new kid in camp that does the dishes :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: bonkellekter on December 31, 2009, 03:39:43 PM: Quote from: DOUBLELUNG on December 06, 2009, 09:57:20 AM
A 2 year old bull is a raghorn in my book. Most typically a small 3,4, or 5 point, I've seen a few 5x6 and 6x6, and one 6x7 raghorn. So I'll disagree with JDB to the extent I don't consider a mature bull with inferior antler development a raghorn. It is about age, not points.

I'm sure there are regional differences, based on typical antler growth for the area. In herds where yearling bulls commonly grow branched antlers, I consider those 2-pt yearlings or 3-pt yearlings - not raghorns.

DOUBLELUNG has got it right it has to age and social rank - 1 year old bulls are typically spikes or two points - 2-3 year old bulls are typically raghorns - 4-5 year old bulls are typically satelite bulls 6+ year old bulls are typically herd bulls and this can very greatly depending on herd size. I have seen bulls that I would consider raghorns and satelites playing the part of a herd bull.
Title: Re: What is your definition of a Raghorn?
Post by: Pathfinder101 on January 01, 2010, 10:16:40 AM: Quote from: bonkellekter on December 31, 2009, 03:39:43 PM
Quote from: DOUBLELUNG on December 06, 2009, 09:57:20 AM
I have seen bulls that I would consider raghorns and satelites playing the part of a herd bull.

We have seen a lot of that in the Blues too, but it is usually early in the rut. You see a lot of raghorn, 5x5 and first-year-six "herd bulls" out there pushing good sized harems. After a bit we figured it out. None of the cows had come in to heat yet. The "big, old guys" let the youngsters do all the work gathering up the herd, and they act like satalite bulls, stealing a cow if one does happen to come into heat early. Then, as more and more cows start coming in season, one by one the young bulls start losing their harems to the "real" herd bulls.

...I think there's a lesson there about old bulls, and young bulls, and age and treachery....but I haven't figured it out yet... :chuckle: :chuckle: