I shot the big 9-point that the antlers fell off(few post below). I need some input on the shoulder mount my Taxidermist is doing. I have a few deer on my wall now. "First buck taken with a bow" its a shoulder-mount with plaque. I also have a 3-D shoulder-mount of a 10-pointer I took with a bow, no plaque.
I want to show off the body size of this big 9-pointer so I decided on a full shoulder mount. Does a plaque behind the mount help or hurt the visual effect?
Are plaques even used that much any more?
Thanks for the input.

With deer a plaque always looks better. When you start getting into the bigger animals like elk and moose they don't look as well with a plaque. A deer should always be plaqued.

I goto disagree with bolt man on this one
i do agree with the idea just not the breaking point
i think anything under 100 lbs. plaque it over that weight no plaque
antelope are smaller than whitetail and look better(IMO) without as do big whitetail(IMO)

I am also a big fan of the pedestal mounts for the larger animals. they are a bit more exp. but they sure look nice when done

no plaque and ask your taxidermist about a wall pedistol, i have two and love them

imp-they look much betteer w/o a plaque. my last 3 or 4 mounts have been the wall pedistal mount. they are nice.

One of my pet peeves....A shoulder mount that comes out of my shop has a panel on it or it doesn't leave. Too many times I see mounts without one that have the hair ruffled the wrong way against the wall. Artistically, I feel it adds to the mount to have that clean line of symmetry against a panel.

This is a matter of personal taste. I think that a plaque on a full shoulder mount takes away from the mount itself. IMO not me no plaque.

No plaque, They usually look cheezy.
Have the guy mount it without, and if you don't like it have him add one before you leave. If he says he can't do it, then find a different taxadermist.

The first deer I had mounted I got it with a plaque. Later I decided I would rather have the mount W/O plaque, so I just took it off and put just the shoulder mount on the wall.

So if you can't decide get it with the plaque and if you don't like it take it off

No plaque. I think the plaque just gets in the way of admiring the deer. Mystro, you'll have a good story to go with that one. I still chuckle when I think of it.