Bighorner

Bighorners are creatures found in the Mojave Wasteland in 2281.

Biology
Bighorners are mutated bighorn sheep. They are dedicated herbivores and are primarily found in wild herds of three to seven members in the Mojave Desert, or in domesticated drifts of varying size in settlements such as Goodsprings, Jacobstown, Spring Mt. Ranch State Park or around Cottonwood Cove. Some more wild bighorners also can be found northwest of Snyder Prospector Camp.

While settlers use them for their horns, meat, and hides, it has been observed that the bull can usually be found in close proximity to a Banana Yucca fruit, making for rather effective herb tracking. They are generally "laid-back" beasts with surprisingly docile dispositions, in spite of being quite capable of being extremely dangerous when provoked. They have one disadvantage when compared to Brahmin: they can't be used as pack animals, as they just lie down until the burden is taken off.

Gameplay attributes
In combat situations, bighorners are unique in that they are rarely outright hostile. Unprovoked bighorners, though marked as hostiles on the compass, will not actively pursue the player like other creatures, and, if left alone, are content to graze and mind their own business. Only by getting too close or assaulting them or their calves will cause them to attack.

Bighorners cannot take a huge amount of abuse (they are squarely on par with a radscorpion in terms of health), but their head-butting attacks are devastating, capable of sending enemies flying backwards or knocking them down. Bighorners can also run very fast, this makes them a very intimidating foe for lower level players.

Any critical shot is a killing blow against a bighorner. Strangely, hitting their horns counts as a headshot.

Bighorner
A regular bighorner with all the attributes mentioned above.

Bighorner bull
Bighorner bulls are usually found in herds around the Mojave Wasteland. The bulls are normally not hostile unless the player gets close or attacks.

If killed the bighorner bull can drop up to five bighorner meat, which can be turned into bighorner steak at a campfire. It is very easy to gain experience if you find bighorners in groups.

Bighorner bulls can cause a lot of damage when attacking in packs as their charges will continue to knock the player over until they escape their range. They are best left alone when at a lower level and will fight to the death if you approach them.

Bighorner calf
Bighorner calves, like brahmin, roam settlements, guarded or unguarded. They are less common than bull and adult bighorners in the wild and are often more tame. This creature is most likely the first encountered by the player in the wasteland.

Killing an unguarded calf is easy despite their size. Bare fists or weak melee weapons are often enough to kill them within seconds. Despite the size of their cranium, their heads will often easily explode when shot. Be wary of penned-up calves, because unlike the free roaming ones, these are often guarded by ranchers that become hostile if any harm comes to their livestock. They are also an easy source of bighorner meat to help stave off starvation in hardcore mode.

Young bighorner
Young bighorners are roughly a third of the size of their fully grown counterparts, with a lot less health. Attacking one of these will cause their nearby family members to turn hostile and attack the Courier. They are not hostile even if you go near them.

Malnourished bighorner
Malnourished bighorners have been deprived of food and are near death. You can find quite a few at the Matthews Animal Husbandry Farm. You can also find one outside of Raul's Shack. They are not hostile even if you go near them, probably because they have no energy to fend off attackers.

Malnourished bighorner calf
Malnourished bighorner calves are extremely rare, as are their brahmin counter-parts, the malnourished brahmin calf. A malnourished bighorner calf is guaranteed to be found at Matthews Animal Husbandry Farm. They can also can be found near Cottonwood Cove. They don't respawn if killed. They are not hostile even if you go near them.

 

Lost bighorner calf (Honest Hearts)
The Lost Bighorner Calf is located north of the Dead Horses Camp up in the mountains, just follow the paths and eventually you'll get to a narrow canyon path and in the end is the lost bighorner calf. It is the object of the Bighorners of the Eastern Virgin quest.

Appearances
Bighorners appear only in Fallout: New Vegas.

Bugs

 * Their knockdown attack can affect the player even when the bighorner is at a considerable distance. This could be caused by the player standing atop rocks or other irregular terrain.
 * A bighorner bull may respawn near Marcus, it often charges him and the other super mutants within Jacobstown and sometimes it will charge at you which will require you to be careful where you shoot as one stray bullet will cause the whole town to become hostile.
 * Another bighorner bull may spawn directly at the sniper's nest when you fast-travel.
 * Sometimes if you score a critical hit on one when you walk up to it there will be no prompt to search it, though you are still able to do so.

Gallery
Толсторог