I don't want to ask this question because I know the answer is in the archives somewhere, I just read it the other day...but of course, I can't find it when I am in need of it.
How are the Meder deer eyes intended to be mounted? They aren't like the normal pre-rotated eyes that have 3/4" white bands nor are they with a uniform band all the way around. I am mounting an it on an upright, right turn Meder form. The ears will be in an alert position.
I would think that if he is alert, he should be starting straight ahead, thus have white in both backs. Either that way, or show white in the front of the right eye and back of left eye.
Primarily, I am trying to figure out which is most natural looking, and since one corner of these eyes comes to a v-shaped point, are they intended to be used for one positioning only?
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the eyes are designed for the bulge of the pupil to be in the forward portion of the eye (as in a real deer). I don't have a pair in front of me, but I am almost positive that the narrowest portion of white will be at the front of the eye when you have them set properly. If you want to show more white at the back of your eye then just adjust your skin accordingly. I switched to the Meder eye this year from the 250 IQ and like them alot.
Chris
Meder eyes are IQ eyes painted the way Joe wants them. They have a great look.The whites of the eyes should not show on a deer if it is mounted correctly and are the correct size. Unless the deer has it's eyes rotated or a scared or agressive look you ususally won't see the whites. The whites show then because the eye lids are open more and the shape of the lid around the eye is shaped differently than a straight ahead normal look. I use Meder eyes in a 34mm because I like his eyes and want an eye with a larger iris just so the white band doesn't show. I have to open up the eye socket a little. It only takes a couple seconds The eyes with the white band is just to sell something cute to the customers. The problem is the manufaturers are making the eyes to fit the forms that are out there. In order to fit the form and show a white band, the iris has to be made smaller. This then makes your eye two small for the mount. The deepest part of the eye lens is in the front, then it slopes rearward toward the back.
The prerotated eyes are not a normal eye. They work good to make a quick eye rotation on a commercial mount. The IQ eye is the more normal look of an eye. In order to rotate them the eye socket has to be drilled out. The eye is made close to a natural eye so it should only go in one way.
Every time I hear discussion about what is "normal" with reguard to anatomy, especially eyes I get a little uncomfortable. In the course of a "normal" day in the life of a wild whitetail the whites of it's eyes likely show many times, sometimes in front and other times at the rear. It's "normal" eyelid position will also change many times. I sat in on one of Joe Meder's seminars a couple of years ago and watched his slide presentation of excellent whitetail photos. The extreme range of "normal" was very educational. Mounts of deer with eyes like some of these live deer would be thought way wrong by most of us yet the proof was in the photos. As for positioning those Meder eyes to achieve a white exposure at the rear (very natural in a focused forward look) some mannikins will require shaving down the front of the eye orbit and building up SLIGHTLY the rear. Test the eyes allowing for the skin to determine proper depth. All mannikins are not the same so you must look at the eyes in the sockets and make adjustments as needed. Be sure to compare the 2 eyes visually from the top as well as the front to be certain they are very close to being the same. If you are in doubt as to wheather the eyes are correct you can slip the cape onto the face and position the eyelids over the eyes to check it. Using eyes larger than called for will make exposing the white more difficult but you might like that effect for some deer. Like most folks, I have my favorite "look" when it comes to mounting whitetails and they pretty much all end up looking that way. The problem with most reference photos is that they are of tame deer, relaxed and begging for a marshmallow. In the dangerous world of wild whitetails there are many sounds and smells that cause the eyes to dart about or focus sharply. Enjoy, Aaron H.
Check referance and get the look correct. After raising deer for over 7 years. The only time I see the whites of their eyes are when they are spooked. The eye shape gets very round, the eye lid is open more. Also When they get aggressive they will show the whites, again the eye is open wider and round looking. A buck will also walk with his head tipped down eyes rolled up.His eyes are rotated at that time. I hardly ever see the whites of my deers eyes unless one of the above things are happening.I talked this issue over with Joe a number of times. Once after one of the the world show. He agreed with me that the iris is to small on most glass eyes. That is why the white shows.The standard form out there shouldn't have the whites showing. It is designed to have a forward look. When you rotate the eyes, even a little the whites will start to show at that time. It is the eye rotation and eye lid position that determins if the white will show. Again the standard forward look it won't be seen. I watch it every day. It looks cute on a mount, if you like cute over accurate.
Above I mentioned normal eyes. It is in reference to the shape of the I Q eye. The lens of the IQ glass eye is closest to the shape of a real eye. Most other eyes are round in shape (domed)The rest of eye shape is in eyelid position.This is determined by what expression you are after. In Joes eye reference photos most are close up. You can't see what the attitude of the deer is. Turn of a head or tipping the head will breifly change because of eye rotation. Turn your head to look at something your eyes shift in that direction first, before you head moves. You can't control that. Once your head is facing what you're looking at your eyes will return to a forward look. All animals are the same learn to read reference watch a dog or cat. Look in a mirror. Study how the eyes move and eye lids change when the head is turned or tipped.
After watching my deer for as many years as I have, and after using every eye on the market, and after enjoying listening to Joe for years, I have to dissagree with some of whats been said here. I consistently see sclera showing on bucks. Bucks seem to rotate the eye rather than move their heads in many cases. I agree with Dean that after the initial rotation the eye focuses back to forward, but its a constant movement back and forth. I feel that many eyes look nice out there, but the Eppley eye is the closest to the true shape of the eye, hands down. Mounting with them makes that very obvious, as the eyelid falls into place easily.
Well, I just mounted the deer with the eyes. I managed to keep the white from showing when I set them with clay, but when it came time to mounting the deer, a bit of white ended up showing. It looks pretty good, though.
Thanks for all of the info. I hope people find these posts when future questions arise about the Meder eye.