Soft Mount Taxidermy
What Are Soft Mounts?
Soft mount taxidermy is a modern approach that emphasizes lifelike realism and natural, flexible posing. Unlike traditional mounts, where the hide is stretched over a rigid mannequin, a soft mount uses a custom-built internal structure that is padded and carefully sewn to create a soft, flexible body. The head is still mounted using traditional taxidermy techniques on a rigid form to preserve accurate anatomical detail and expression.
Many soft mounts incorporate articulated joints or internal armatures, allowing the animal to be posed in natural positions—such as sitting, lying down, or curled—similar to how the animal would appear in life. This versatility makes soft mounts especially popular for display, educational settings, film and photography work, and among collectors who appreciate highly expressive and realistic presentations.
Although soft mounts have a soft, plush-like appearance, they are still genuine taxidermy pieces. They require the same professional tanning processes and craftsmanship as traditional mounts. Soft mounts are not intended to be toys and should be handled with care and displayed responsibly to ensure their long-term preservation.
Types of Soft Mounts - Body Styles
Soft Body / Floppy Mount
These typically feature minimal structure but can have movable wired legs. The internal body is squishy, soft and cushiony like a pillow and is typically stuffed with only polyfil. Some artists (myself included) will still make a full padded soft armature. Weights can be added to the body make the mount feel more alive, pleasant, and comforting to hold.
Semi Posable Mount
The perfect hybrid between both styles. Semi posable mounts typically feature wired legs and a wired neck, with the body and tail left soft / floppy. They do not have a full armature, so typically cannot stand or sit but can hold head up laying positions. These are great for display as well as to hold.
Fully Posable Mount
These mounts contain a complete armature, meaning the neck, back, legs, and tail are wired. These armatures are typically wrapped with quilt batting, upholstery foam, or other soft and squishy material. Depending on the artist, the skeleton may be complex or simple. Neither is wrong, but each functions a bit differently. Usually, these mounts can sit, stand, lay and hold nearly any realistic pose a living animal can. These mounts are best as display pieces and are typically more rigid than the other two styles.
Why Choose a Soft Mount
Soft mount taxidermy offers a unique way to preserve and display an animal while emphasizing natural posture and lifelike expression. Traditional taxidermy mounts are designed to be rigid and fixed in a single pose, but soft mounts allow for more flexibility in how the animal is positioned. This makes it possible to present the animal in poses and environments that more closely resemble how animals are often seen in the wild.
For many collectors, hunters, and educators, soft mounts provide a more intimate and expressive way to appreciate an animal’s form and character.
Each mount requires careful design and hand construction of the internal structure to ensure both realism and durability. The result is a mount that maintains accurate anatomy and detail while offering a softer, more natural presentation.
Ultimately, people choose soft mounts because they combine traditional taxidermy skill with greater artistic freedom, creating a display that feels both lifelike and uniquely personal.
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"We do our best to capture the essence and beauty of each animal we work with. Every mount is a chance for improvement, and we will continue to strive to create the highest quality taxidermy and products we can."
