Deer Eye Alternatives ?

Not sure what you were after, but I have used Meder eyes from Mckenzie, but got some from a supplier up here that had the Bio optics eyes in stock. They look nice to me.
For whatever that's worth...

 

and your customers will never know the difference.

 

For the last 8-10 years I have use true eyes. I had to use glass eyes for the last year, not happy about it but,your rite we are the only ones who notice.

 

I have used a variety of eyes, but the IQ forward look is the closest in shape

 

What ever I can get

 

Most customers wouldn't know the difference if you put a brown marble with a Sharpie made pupil in it, so a slightly less quality eye will definitely will not be an issue.

 

The point is, There is not enough difference between QUALITY eyes that will make or break a mount. I'd be willing to bet that if you put Meder IQ eyes, bi optic eyes and a True eyes in three deer mounts in the same pose, side by side and ask a customer what the difference is from one mount to the other, eyes would not be mentioned by that customer.

 

I have very picky clients, they can't tell what eyes I use, just that I can make pretty much any eye look good. It's all in quality on the mount. You can use the best eyes made and still do crappy work if you don't know what your doing. I still prefer the true eyes over any glass eyes I have used. I can't wait a year to get them. I was getting eyes from Tohican but they don't take orders any more

 

You are lol

 

Agreed.

 

I can understand where Hugh is coming from.
When a set of eyes is going to cost me $30 cdn or more by the time it's shipped, I like to know what I am getting, and not having access to trade shows or any local (drive to) suppliers, you are at the mercy of photos in catalogue or online.
its kind of nice to know what you are getting when you order.
I once ordered some bear eyes (paid about 20 bucks and they made more plastic, stuffed animal eyes look museum grade.



Here's a Meder (medium )JM32M (from mckenzie) beside a 36 mm dark Bio optics II.
The backs look near identical, concave, with slightly indented pupil.
Other guys are right, most wouldn't notice the difference between these 2, and the eyes may be a bit like fishing lures...made for catching fishermen.

I like the Meder eyes...you should see my fishing box. Lol.

 

When I was 17 ( a looong time ago) I worked in a shop that used all black “globe” eyes in his deer. No one ever noticed.

 

I use the cheapest eyes available. A guy close to me pours his own using fiberglass resin. Occasionally, someone wants eyes with a white band. For that privilege, they pay an additional $20. A cheap eye set correctly looks ten-fold better than an expensive eye set wrong.