I hear people saying Shoulder Mount and FULL Shoulder Mount quite often...

Could someone explain the difference to me, please?

Thank you!

When I use either term I mean the same thing.

Sometimes when Im talking with a customer, i refer to an offset boar as being a 'full shoulder'or some of the American spanish goat shoulder forms as 'full shoulder' as these forms show a bit more shoulder than the standard shoulder forms available here.

This is an anachronism. At one time, the only mounts you could get on anything was a "neck" mount. That was because we used the real skull and built the neck from wood, excelsior, string and plaster. We hadn't figured out an economical way to bend the neck up from that shoulder joint. When we finally did, the "newer" paper and fiberglass forms followed quickly and then the foam arrived. When it did, taxidermist used that "shoulder" or "full shoulder" as an advertising gimmick. The days of the "neck mount" are just about gone except when a hunter screws up a hide and doesn't want to replace it. Therefore, a "shoulder" and a "full shoulder" have remained the only alternative to the "neck" and from a supply viewpoint, are virtually the same.

The "offsets" often don't give as much shoulder as the straights. You do get to SEE the shoulder on the show side a bit better, but you'd better cut your cape long as you're actually showing some ribcage as well. On the "off" side, just a hint of the shoulder remains.

Thanks for your detailed explanation...

I can see that taxidermy in general has really evolved and has come aways!!!