Do you wear hearing protection when hunting?

[Scout21]

I pop some of the cheap silicone plugs into my ears before taking a shot. This seems to have worked best for me so far. I simply drape them over my neck and tuck them under my shirt to keep them secure. It takes all of 5 seconds to pull my mask down and put them in, longer if I'm being stealthy about it.

I tried foam ones for a bit, but quickly got tired of the insertion process. It's pretty involved and takes much more movement. It sucks because they've often got the best NRR.

I used to use ear muffs, but they were a bit of a hassle to carry as I don't like to bring bags into the woods with me. They work well when wearing a full head face mask, though. You can simply put them on over it without having to move your mask down.

What method has worked best for you guys?

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

What?

 

[Fyrstyk]

I use the Walker rope style ear plugs when the wind is not blowing. they enhance sounds and have a automatic sound blocking mode when a shot is fired. They are absolutely worthless if the wind is blowing cause all you hear is constant "white noise".

 

[JFrank]

Not a single person I know wears any type of hearing protection while hunting deer , elk, bear, cat or moose.

 

[Scout21]

Not a single person I know wears any type of hearing protection while hunting deer , elk, bear, cat or moose.

It's not very common at all. I've only met one other person who wears them hunting, and they use electronic ear muffs.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I use these if im hunting with a wheel gun.
Surefire Sonic Defender EP3, Filtered Earplugs, 1 Pair - Walmart.com

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Absolutely, and I hunt suppressed as well. I generally wear muffs, but if I manage to leave them in the truck, then I have plugs in my pocket or in my buttstock pouch.

 

[jmorris]

Well, I have already ruined my hearing (not from firearm use) and wear noise amplifying/truncating muffs. So I can not only hear better than normal but reduce the chance of further damage.

I have forgot plugs before and have used cartridge cases to plug my ears in the past. If I am shooting, I generally will have at least 2 extra handy.

 

[beagler]

I have often thought about trying something, especially for my kids. We hunt from a blind that amplifies the report of gun.

 

[JFrank]

I have often thought about trying something, especially for my kids. We hunt from a blind that amplifies the report of gun.

Probably a good idea for kids and in a stand but I can assure you while hunting in Montana you better be aware of every little twitch and snap while keeping your head on a swivel, the game up here have big teeth and claws.

 

[mcb]

Depends on what I am hunting with but with some louder guns I will wear a pair of Walker Silencer BT in the ear plugs when using exceptionally loud rifles or handguns.

 

[jmr40]

Sometimes, and I need to do it more often to save what hearing I have left. It's not a normal thing for me to pick up ear protection when pulling my gear together. That is something I need to get in the habit of doing.

 

[Machiavelli]

I use silicone plugs and as said insert them just before taking shot, I,m running a 338LM with a brake.

 

[JeffG]

Walker electronic muffs while hunting. I can't risk losing anymore hearing. You shouldn't either.

 

[CraigC]

Absolutely! I already have tinnitus. I often hunt with handguns, don't want it to get worse and anything I am exposed to hurts much more than it used to. I use these soft plastic Radians plugs and insert them when I need them.

 

[westernrover]

Yes. My boys have the slim electronic muffs. For practice, they double-up with foam plugs. For hunting, the muffs are enough. I prefer the muffs because I can easily check visually for effective fit. I know when my own foam plugs are in correctly, but it's too hard to tell for another person. The muffs also keep ears warm and hunting here is often well below freezing.

I have big (30+dB NRR) electronic muffs for myself because I do not need a cheek-weld if I'm not on the rifle. I also carry foam plugs in my pocket if I forget the muffs (or if anyone forgets theirs). The corded plugs are good for this too. If I shoot a rifle, I prefer foam plugs so there is no interference with the stock, but the slim muffs are fine. If I'm under a metal structure or around walls at the outdoor range, the slim muffs by themselves are not enough.

As you know, the electronics in the muffs don't reduce noise, but they use external microphones and internal headphone speakers to allow non gunfire noises to be picked up, amplified, and reproduced inside the muffs, enabling us to communicate quietly and not have to holler at each other to be heard through the muffs. It's not perfect, and it's by no means better than un-assisted hearing, but the muffs are necessary to protect that.

There is no question in my mind that a single gunshot can rupture eardrums, permanently damage hearing, cause hearing loss, and cause tinnitus that persists for a lifetime. I know that people "get away with it" all the time, but it's a risk to take with a very grievous consequence.

 

[Legionnaire]

Peltor Tac-7s always when hunting with a handgun, sometimes when rifle hunting from a blind or elevated stand. Foam or neoprene plugs on a line similar to those shown above (@CraigC) at other times.

 

[Patocazador]

I use Radians self-molding ear plugs. Mix it up, divide in two and stuff them in your ears. After a few minutes of setting time you have small custom-made plugs that really work well.
However, I discovered them after about 50% hearing loss in my left ear and 80% loss in my right one.

"Speak up, I can't hear you" is a common refrain for me due to ignorance as a younger man.

 

[Electrod47]

I wear ear plugs when shooting, have them on the string around my neck when hunting and put them in IF I have the time and opportunity. But, I'm willing to take a couple blasts if the body size and horns are there.

 

[stillquietvoice]

I use peltor tri flange with a 36 dB noise rating, insert when nessasary. I'd like a good set of electronic muffs but those aren't legal here.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I pop some of the cheap silicone plugs into my ears before taking a shot. This seems to have worked best for me so far. I simply drape them over my neck and tuck them under my shirt to keep them secure. It takes all of 5 seconds to pull my mask down and put them in, longer if I'm being stealthy about it.

I tried foam ones for a bit, but quickly got tired of the insertion process. It's pretty involved and takes much more movement. It sucks because they've often got the best NRR.

I used to use ear muffs, but they were a bit of a hassle to carry as I don't like to bring bags into the woods with me. They work well when wearing a full head face mask, though. You can simply put them on over it without having to move your mask down.

What method has worked best for you guys?

We have to have 32 nrr at my plant. I have had to fire people for not meeting that. They refuse to wear the 32nrr orange ones because they are painful. Most over the ear type are low 20s

I use these if im hunting with a wheel gun.
Surefire Sonic Defender EP3, Filtered Earplugs, 1 Pair - Walmart.com

I tried those. Better than nothing but I wasn't crazy about them

Well, I have already ruined my hearing (not from firearm use) and wear noise amplifying/truncating muffs. So I can not only hear better than normal but reduce the chance of further damage.

I have forgot plugs before and have used cartridge cases to plug my ears in the past. If I am shooting, I generally will have at least 2 extra handy.

Absolutely! I already have tinnitus. I often hunt with handguns, don't want it to get worse and anything I am exposed to hurts much more than it used to. I use these soft plastic Radians plugs and insert them when I need them.

View attachment 1120591

We test employees yearly. In some areas they have to wear 28nrr. Some they have to use 32 nrr. When I test now, my hearing in the high frequencies is pretty much non existent. Everyone says "wow this place has ruined your hearing". Some blame my shooting. Some blame my shop and working on loud engine. Some would blame chainsaws.... funny part is that I started working there at 19.... my hearing tests have always been awful. I hear fine. Can hear animals farther off than most people. Only in the high frequencies is it an issue. I do have slight tinnitus too

One time I was in my jeep with a buddy. A groundhog came up 100 yards off. I pulled the 460 and went to shoot him but he went down. I removed one foam 32nrr plugs and went to talking. The groundhog popped up and I stuck my plug in but apparently didn't let it expand. I blew up the groundhog but had balance issues for days. I didn't hear anything at all in that ear for hours


With a rifle hunting, I don't use anything. I know I should. When I'm just shooting I always do. But with the 460 or 500 I always wear something. 10mm up to 44 I usually do.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I use electric ear muffs most of the time in a deer stand and almost always when hunting with a handgun. Never when bird hunting.

 

[.308 Norma]

Not a single person I know wears any type of hearing protection while hunting deer , elk, bear, cat or moose.

I'm not a "single person" - I'm a "married person" (and so is my wife) and neither of us wears hearing protection while hunting either.

 

[hawg]

I have often thought about trying something, especially for my kids. We hunt from a blind that amplifies the report of gun.

Shoot with the muzzle outside the blind.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

Just one more thing for me to lose in my pocket or pack or the woods.

So no. But it's all low round count hunting.