Hearing protection poll

[30-06 lover]

Depends...
If I am shooting a 22 rifle on a friend's property, probably not. If I am out hunting four-legged creatures, no. Sometimes while hunting waterfowl. I never have while chasing chickens. Sighting in a rifle or at the range I always wear it, and I always plug up when shooting any handgun.

 

[Feanaro]

Teen to 25, always. I double up when possible. As a music lover and musician, my hearing is very important to me.

 

[Regolith]

When I was younger, I used to not wear hearing protection, but now I always do unless its a .22LR or I'm hunting.

 

[Mojo-jo-jo]

I have hearing loss and mild tinnitus from performing in and teaching marching bands (drumline). It's not fun--you get a constant reminder of your idiocy. I was exposed to about 300% greater than than the OSHA approved noise levels during my ~15 year music career (~105+db for an average of 4 hours per day), and never wore hearing protection. You would think that it would be a good indicator that you have a potential of doing damage to your hearing when you start doing warmups in a parking lot and set off all the car alarms--but hey, we just thought that was cool...

I wear hearing protection religiously now, even when I go to concerts or work with bands. I won't risk serious damage anymore--I don't want it to get worse.

I've only been hunting once, about 5 years ago and didn't wear hearing protection, but didn't see any deer either (no shots taken). I probably would put it in at least one ear now, or buy a "game ear" if I hunted often.

Hearing is something you can't get back, and damage (especially tinnitus) leaves you with a constant, unpleasant reminder of your stupidity.

 

[ZeSpectre]

I can hardly believe how many people show up at the public range with no hearing protection at all...and then complain about how loud some guns are.

 

[Str8ShooterEsq]

When hunting, I use just plugs. Nothing like several 12 gauges going off in a duck blind to drive this lesson home. At the range, I use muffs and double-up with plugs if someone is shooting a boomer indoors.

 

[CombatArmsUSAF]

What is a good quality set of muffs?

I don't like the big bulky ones, so something slim would be best.

 

[Markbo]

Where is the "plugs and muffs for everyone always, except when hunting" option?

I'll vote when I find it.

I KNEW I was missing something when I set it up... can't go back and add it now, but your vote is noted!

 

[armedandsafe]

I grew up in the "plugs ain't macho" era and have tinitus and loss of hearing notches. Now, I have a number of different muffs and a set of the Radian Enhanced Ears. Those are quite good, once you get the volume and tone balance set for YOUR hearing.

Pops

 

[winchester243]

Not when hunting.

 

[AlaskaErik]

I was a C-130 loadmaster for 17 years. I always wore earplugs with my headset because I did not want to be deaf in my old age. I also always wear hearing protection when I use my John Deere, when I used to have a regular lawn mower, when I used to have a regular snow blower (the John Deere replaced the last two) and when I shoot. I have better hearing than most 18 year olds and I plan on keeping it that way. Once it's gone, the only options are hearing aids or total deafness. Neither appeals to me.

 

[hso]

Surefire EP-3s and Peltor Tac6-S electronic muffs. This combination allows me to hear the leaves rustling while still protecting my hearing from my 1911 or m14.

 

[Dksimon]

I dont wear muffs when I shoot .22 or when I'm hunting but other than that I wear muffs.

 

[USMC 1975]

My hearing is going as it is, so I wear earplugs at the drop of a hat: music events, motorcycling, lawn mowing... You can't get it back when it's gone.

But maybe after a few years of stem-cell research...

I agree completely. I cannot believe the amount of hearing loss I have suffered from years of abusing my ears. To top it all off, I have suffered several strokes which also took out some of my hearing.

It is to the point now that I am becoming deaf with high frequency tones and noises and have a hard time with conversations.

You never miss something till its gone.

Chris