Ear protection for hunting.

d2wing

d2wing

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Nov 10, 2008
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For several years I have hunted with a Tikka T3 in 7-08 with a muzzle brake. It hasn't bothered me before now, but this year I hunted from an enclosed stand with a roof. Even with the muzzle outside the stand the blast was too loud. I shot a deer Saturday and today, Tuesday my ears still ring. I plan on removing the muzzle brake for hunting.
Any other suggestions for ear protection while still being able to hear deer?
 
At the simplest/cheapest end of the spectrum, a valved plug like these from Phonak can be helpful. https://www.phonak.com/en-us/hearing-devices/earplugs

At the high end, custom-molded electronic protection. https://proears.com/product/pro-fit-series/

Personally, I think brakes are a terrible idea on a hunting gun and am not sure if it is possible to entirely protect one's self from such things. If nothing else, tinnitus is a reliable sign that you've done permanent damage, whether or not that damage manifests now or twenty years later. My honest advice as the owner of a hearing clinic is to chop off the brake and buy yourself some $30 over-the-counter valved shooting plugs.
 
Show Me said:
The worst was youth hunts. "See the sholder" " yes" let me BOOMMMMM
Click to expand...
I once got a little too close to the business end of a braked 50 bmg. Actually gave me a nose bleed. I'm sure it's not the only reason for my tinnitus, but I imagine it's in there somewhere.
 
d2wing said:
For several years I have hunted with a Tikka T3 in 7-08 with a muzzle brake. It hasn't bothered me before now, but this year I hunted from an enclosed stand with a roof. Even with the muzzle outside the stand the blast was too loud. I shot a deer Saturday and today, Tuesday my ears still ring. I plan on removing the muzzle brake for hunting.
Any other suggestions for ear protection while still being able to hear deer?
Click to expand...
We use/have used the surefire ep3's and/or Caldwell shooting earbuds (electronic). The wife preferred the Caldwell, but doesn't complain if she forgets to charge them and has to use the ep3.
 
.38 Special said:
At the simplest/cheapest end of the spectrum, a valved plug like these from Phonak can be helpful. https://www.phonak.com/en-us/hearing-devices/earplugs

At the high end, custom-molded electronic protection. https://proears.com/product/pro-fit-series/

Personally, I think brakes are a terrible idea on a hunting gun and am not sure if it is possible to entirely protect one's self from such things. If nothing else, tinnitus is a reliable sign that you've done permanent damage, whether or not that damage manifests now or twenty years later. My honest advice as the owner of a hearing clinic is to chop off the brake and buy yourself some $30 over-the-counter valved shooting plugs.
Click to expand...

I, for one, can attest to hearing damage manifesting 20 years later. Used to shoot quite a bit as a kid without any hearing protection. Shot a a few times without protection in my 20's, that damn M1A1 was murder on my ears. The "crickets" started around the age of 40, an endless background ringing noise. Just turned 60 and the damage is extensive, it is never quiet anymore. The tinnitus now washes out most high frequency sounds, including my daughters voices. Conversations are garbled, making out anything in a crowd is impossible, and my wife gets tired of repeating herself so I have resorted to trying to read lips. I try to put together what I'm hearing with lip movement and the general context at that time. It is time for hearing aids, I acknowledge that, but it seems to be pushed back over and over again. Damn vanity. This year I invested in a set of electronic muffs so I can hear the deer moving but the gunshot doesn't do any further damage.
In summation, I wish I had known then what I know now. No matter what your age, use hearing protection.
*steps off soapbox*
 
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Cheap foam plugs on a rope I call them. I still hunt out of a box and don't put them in till I'm ready to take a shot. On another note my rifle barrel is way outside the box since the ledge of the window is my rest. Most of the noise is outside the box...
 
After almost 30 years of hunting, last season was the straw that broke the camels back.

Took a shot on a buck…. And as I type this a year later the high pitch ringing in my left ear is as bad now as it was one second after firing that shot.

I researched which suppressors have the best decibel reduction for 308 Win, and started the process the next week. The one I picked is supposed to make the 308 win hearing safe. Not silent…. Hearing safe.

And I may start using plugs too, as added safety.
 
JDeere said:
Cheap foam plugs on a rope I call them. I still hunt out of a box and don't put them in till I'm ready to take a shot. On another note my rifle barrel is way outside the box since the ledge of the window is my rest. Most of the noise is outside the box...
Click to expand...
Box yes. Lawn chair. Coffee and snacks. Coffee, pee repeat. Watch does, buck blunders by. Boom out the window. No strangers wandering by. Still loud for my old ears
 
I only have brakes on my 3 gun rifles and the really big stuff I double plug (plugs and muffs on when I shoot.

For hunting, I would much rather have a suppressor on the end instead.

I use amplified muffs that enhance noise out there and then attenuate the loud noises when I fire.

I have a number but use these the most. AAA batteries are common enough I keep them in stock and they work well.

 
hso said:
Muffs over plugs with the muff volume turned up.
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I do this at an outdoor shooting spot sometimes and it is remarkable that you can have much ear protection and your hearing is still amplified. I can hear aluminum cans fall of a target stand into the leaves like it is right in front of me, but without the muffs and plugs I can't hear that. We tested this shooting my friends supressed .22 LR, and it is kind of remarkable. I don't think I'd want to wear plugs all day, but the electronics ear muffs turned up really ampliies your hearing for sure.
 
I always wear ear protection, sometimes double up when at the range or shooting shotgun.

I never wear ear protection when hunting, as I'm not normally shooting. Listening to the surroundings is a key aspect when hunting. One shot out in the open isn't going to permanently damage your hearing.
 
Since I hunt with a .460, ear protection is a must. Period. I use a pair of the AXIL GS Extreme 2.0 and they work very well. Not only do they keep my ears from bleeding, they are much more comfortable than electronic muffs and since they can magnify sound also, they are great for my 70 year old hearing, not only when using the .460, but also when turkey hunting. I also have a similar pair from Walker's that work well too.

goaxil.com

GS Extreme 2.0

AXIL GS Extreme 2.0: 3-in-1 earbuds for shooting, featuring Bluetooth, noise isolation, and electronic protection. Comfortable, long-lasting, 25hr runtime.
goaxil.com goaxil.com
 
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I've used a set of Peltor6s for almost 30 years. You can turn them up to amplify sounds, but I've found that they work best when adjusted down to as close to normal level as possible. When turned up it becomes hard to identify where the sound is coming from.

I've used just the muffs when shooting my 20" barrel 12 ga ported choke turkey gun and it turns the shotgun's BOOM into a faraway boom.
 
jmorris said:
I only have brakes on my 3 gun rifles and the really big stuff I double plug (plugs and muffs on when I shoot.

For hunting, I would much rather have a suppressor on the end instead.

I use amplified muffs that enhance noise out there and then attenuate the loud noises when I fire.

I have a number but use these the most. AAA batteries are common enough I keep them in stock and they work well.

Click to expand...
Thanks, I ordered a set.
 
I carry a cheap set of e-muffs around im my back pack. If im sitting or standing around ill put them on, if im walking i usually dont have them on. They work well, but I am looking for a more comfortable long ware option. I had a set of the old walker earplugs, but they died....also didnt do a great job at noise reduction when i tried to use them for range time.
 
I use a set of cheaper Walker electronic muffs. They got mixed reviews because the sound they emit is “grainy”. Well, it is pretty grainy but that doesn’t mean you can’t still hear just fine through them for all the things you need to hear while hunting.

I got them at Midway last year on sale for $35. They blocked the blast from my 24” barrel 300 WinMag with brake down to levels I don’t even notice. Don’t use that rifle much anymore and have since removed the brake.
 
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