One of the first things we ask clients is: Where is your hunting trophy going to hang or stand? This isn’t just small talk — it determines how we position the animal and what style of mount best suits your space, your species, and your personal taste. Whether you’re planning a wild boar shoulder mount, goat shoulder mount, chamois shoulder mount, or something as grand as a red stag, the position and presentation are essential parts of the taxidermy process NZ hunters rely on.
Wall-Mounted Shoulder Positions
For wall-mounted hunting trophies, we offer several positioning options. Each creates a different visual effect and suits different spaces. Choosing the right pose depends on where the mount will hang and the kind of presence you want it to have in the room.
Frontal (Straight Ahead)
Perfect for animals with symmetrical antlers or horns — like a red stag shoulder mount or fallow buck shoulder mount. This bold, direct look works beautifully above a fireplace, in a hallway, or as a striking centrepiece on a feature wall.
Left Turn / Right Turn
A slight turn to the left or right adds personality and makes the mount feel more dynamic. It also helps fit the mount into narrower wall spaces or corners. This option works particularly well for fallow buck shoulder mounts and red stag shoulder mounts, as the turn can highlight antler features and better display the paddle on a fallow.
Sneak Position
This pose features the head lowered slightly, as if the animal is stalking or interacting with another. It’s subtle yet dramatic — a great fit for a tahr shoulder mount, wild boar, or goat. The sneak adds a sense of movement and natural tension and allows for the mane of a tahr to be displayed to its full potential.
Semi-Upright or Upright
A proud and commanding posture, often used for animals like the chamois shoulder mount or red stag. It results in a trophy that is alert and engaging, creating maximum presence that works well in open spaces with good lighting.
By seeing these poses side-by-side, clients can easily decide what will suit their home or hunting lodge best. If you’re unsure, we’re always happy to help — simply send us a photo of your space, and we’ll advise on the best positioning for your chosen species.
Wall Pedestal Mounts: The Best of Both Worlds
Wall pedestal mounts offer a brilliant combination of the two main mounting styles. They provide the dynamic posture and greater body visibility of a floor pedestal mount — but without taking up floor space. This makes them ideal for clients who want a more dramatic, artistic mount but don’t have room for a full pedestal.
Wall pedestal mounts extend out from the wall with a more sculptural form. They showcase more of the animal’s shoulder, chest, and neck, allowing for expressive head turns, lowered sneaks, or elevated upright positions.
Advantages:
• Offers more body than traditional shoulder mounts
• More dynamic pose options — including turns, tilt, or movement
• Keeps your floor clear while still making a strong visual impact
• Perfect for red stag, tahr, fallow, and goat shoulder mounts that deserve extra presence
Wall pedestal mounts are a great option for:
• Narrow hallways where you want more depth without floor clutter
• Trophy walls with varying mount styles
• Hunters who want the realism of a pedestal without the footprint
Ask us about our custom wall pedestal designs — we can tailor the angle, form, and base to suit your space and species.
Pedestal Mounts: A Stunning Alternative
If wall space is limited, or if you’re after something more sculptural and striking, consider a pedestal mount. This style of mount displays your trophy on a freestanding base, allowing it to be admired from multiple angles. It transforms your hunting memory into a full 3D display piece — ideal for open rooms, entryways, or feature corners.
What Is a Pedestal Mount?
A pedestal mount uses the same detailed process as a shoulder mount, but instead of attaching the form to a wall, the mount is placed on a custom-built base. This could be:
• A clean, finished wood pedestal
• A rustic, rock-textured form
• A custom base featuring natural habitat details like grasses, river stones, or bark
This style is particularly stunning for tahr, red stag, goats, and sheep, whose horns, manes, and neck structure are often best appreciated from all sides.
Common examples include:
• Tahr pedestal mounts with long, flowing manes
• Sheep pedestal mounts showcasing strong, curved horns
• Goat shoulder mounts turned into floor-standing art pieces
• Red stag pedestal mounts with full neck and beam display
Pedestal mounts allow for much more creativity. We can adjust the head turn, tilt, neck angle, or even add open-mouthed expressions — perfect for telling the story behind your hunt. For instance, a wild boar with a snarl or a chamois shoulder mount mid-alert pose adds authenticity and life to your hunting trophy.
Pedestal mounts look incredible in open spaces like:
• Lodge entryways
• Game rooms
• Living rooms with vaulted ceilings
• Beside a fireplace or in corners with natural light
Wall Mount vs. Pedestal Mount: What’s the Difference?
When deciding how to showcase your hunting trophies, most people choose between wall-mounted shoulder mounts and pedestal mounts. Both are excellent options — your decision will depend on your space, style, and what kind of impact you want the mount to make.
Wall-Mounted Shoulder Mounts
Wall mounts are the traditional go-to for most hunters. These shoulder mounts are designed to hang securely on your wall, showcasing the head, neck, and part of the shoulders.
Advantages:
• Ideal for homes or rooms with limited floor space.
• Great for highlighting symmetry, especially in species like fallow buck, red stag, and goats.
• A timeless, clean display option that suits most home or lodge interiors.
• Easier to install — just needs a secure stud or wall anchor.
• Generally more cost-effective than pedestal mounts.
Considerations:
• Best viewed from the front or slightly angled sides.
• Posing options are more limited: frontal, left/right turn, sneak, upright.
• May not make as much of a visual statement in larger or open spaces.
Wall mounts are especially well-suited for goat shoulder mounts, wild boar, red stag, and sheep shoulder mounts. They’re a great option for building out a “trophy wall” or keeping things clean and classic.
Pedestal Mounts
Pedestal mounts are freestanding mounts placed on a base. They offer more artistic flexibility and a larger visual presence.
Advantages:
• Fully visible from 360 degrees — ideal for species with detailed manes, horns, or antlers.
• Allows for more creative expressions — head turns, tilt, snarl, lowered head, or natural stance.
• Creates a centrepiece for any room.
• Doesn’t require wall installation — just a solid floor.
Considerations:
• Requires more space, especially around the mount.
• Typically higher in cost due to base materials and added craftsmanship.
• Needs slightly more maintenance and dusting due to its lower position and exposure.
Pedestal mounts are perfect for hunters looking to make a bold statement with a trophy piece like a tahr, sheep, or uniquely posed chamois shoulder mount.
Which One Should You Choose?
When choosing between a wall-mounted shoulder mount, wall pedestal, and a floor pedestal mount, ask yourself these key questions:
• Do I have more wall space or floor space?
• Will the mount be seen only from the front or from all sides?
• Do I want something classic and timeless, or bold and eye-catching?
• Is this animal part of a collection — or is it a once-in-a-lifetime trophy?
If you’re not sure yet, that’s completely normal — we’re here to guide you through it. At All Over Taxidermy, we always start by asking where your mount will go. That way, we can match the pose, form, and species to your home or lodge setup.
We also provide a photo guide with side-by-side examples: frontal, left turn, right turn, sneak, upright, pedestal, and wall pedestal options, so you can easily picture what will look best in your space.
Our Process: Helping You Choose the Right Style
We guide every client through a personalised design process. Once we know:
• What species you’ve harvested
• Where the mount will be displayed
• What visual style suits you (natural, regal, artistic, dynamic)
we can recommend a form that truly brings your hunting trophy to life.
From a slightly turned fallow buck shoulder mount nestled between windows, to a bold goat shoulder mount on a rustic pedestal base, or a graceful chamois shoulder mount posed full-alert — every detail is custom-tailored.
Not sure what you want yet? That’s perfectly okay. Use this guide, browse through our photo examples, and talk to us — we’ll help you find the perfect match.
Because at the end of the day, your mount is more than a memory — it’s a story, a legacy, and a lasting part of your home.
