Wooden deer mount plaques have long been a traditional choice for displaying trophies, but they come with several significant disadvantages. As hunters and collectors look for better ways to showcase their prized mounts, understanding these drawbacks is crucial. In this article, we will explore the various issues associated with wooden mount plaques, from their vulnerability to pests and environmental damage to their lack of flexibility and aesthetic concerns.
Space Consumption and Display Issues
Wooden deer mount plaques can be quite bulky, consuming a significant amount of wall space. This is particularly problematic if you have multiple mounts to display. The relatively large wall footprint required for wooden plaques can make it challenging to arrange your trophies for optimal display without causing your wall to look cluttered.
Lack of Adjustability
One of the biggest drawbacks of wooden mount plaques is their total lack of adjustability. Once they’ve been mounted, the plaque and your trophy are fixed in place, which can make finding the best place to display your mount awkward, impossible, or just plain difficult. Plaques limit your ability to display your mounts at the best possible angle. This rigidity can prevent you from highlighting the best features of your trophy, such as the unique curvature of antlers or the intricate details of a skull.
Susceptibility to Their Environment
Wooden plaques are susceptible to environmental factors such as humidity and moisture. Over time, exposure to these elements can cause the wood to warp, crack, or even develop mold and mildew in more extreme circumstances (if that’s happening to your plaque, we’d hate to see what happened to your trophy!). Each of these types of degradation can compromise the structural integrity of the mount – some more, some less – but they also detract from its aesthetic appeal. Having a cracked plaque behind your favorite trophy tends to spoil the display.
Vulnerability to Pests
Wooden mount plaques are also vulnerable to various wood-destroying pests, including termites, carpenter ants, and woodboring beetles. These insects are attracted to wood for its cellulose content, which they consume, leading to significant structural damage over time. Termites, in particular, can be devastating, as they feed on the wood and create tunnels, weakening the plaque’s integrity. Woodboring beetles lay their eggs in wood, and the larvae (also known as woodworms) tunnel through it, leaving behind damaging galleries and exit holes. Regular inspections and treatments with wood preservatives or insecticides are essential to prevent and manage infestations.
Aesthetic Concerns
This depends on your personal preference, but for some, wooden plaques can detract from the visual appeal of your trophy mounts. Large wooden backdrops can distract attention away from the mount itself. Additionally, wood that is not cared for will age and degrade. Exposure to sunlight, humidity, and other environmental factors can cause wood to discolor over time. But once again, if your plaque is suffering from sunlight exposure or humidity changes, odds are your trophy is suffering even more damage. Keep sunlight off your trophies and your humidity level constant!
Limited Flexibility for Different Species
Wooden plaques are often designed for specific types of mounts, limiting their flexibility. If you have a diverse collection of trophies from various species, adapting wooden plaques to fit each one can be challenging. Moreover, once a mount is fixed to a wooden plaque, changing or updating the display can be more trouble than it’s worth.
In contrast, modern mounting systems offer greater adaptability, allowing you to easily adjust and reposition your mounts to highlight their best features or to accommodate new additions to your collection. This flexibility ensures that each trophy is showcased in the most impressive manner possible.
Upgrade with Full Range Hanging Systems
Upgrading to Full Range Hanging Systems offers several advantages over traditional wooden deer mount plaques, addressing many of their inherent drawbacks:
- Space-Saving and Adjustable Features: Full Range Hanging Systems are designed to optimize wall space, providing a more efficient display setup. Unlike bulky wooden plaques, these systems allow you to adjust the positioning of your mounts, ensuring that each trophy is showcased from its best angle.
- Enhanced Durability and Pest Resistance: Unlike wooden plaques, which are susceptible to warping, cracking, and pest infestations, Full Range Hanging Systems are constructed from steel. This durability ensures that your mounts remain secure and stable over time.
- Unobtrusive Design for Better Trophy Display: The minimalist design of Full Range Hanging Systems keeps the focus on your trophies rather than the mounting hardware. This sleek appearance enhances the aesthetic appeal of your display, allowing the natural beauty of your mounts to take center stage without being overshadowed by a large wooden backdrop.
- Works Better with Multiple Mounts: Full Range Hanging Systems are particularly effective for showcasing multiple trophies. Their adjustable features and efficient use of space make it easier to create a cohesive and visually striking display, accommodating various types and sizes of mounts without the limitations imposed by wooden plaques.
By choosing Full Range Hanging Systems, your trophies are displayed in a manner that highlights their beauty and significance while providing the practical benefits of durability, flexibility, and space efficiency. Explore our store today to find the perfect mounting solution for your collection!