Hunting and hearing protection

[Matt304]

I'm trying to figure this one out, as I'm a bit hesitant to lose my hearing at such a young age.

At what point, loudness-wise, should hearing protection while hunting be considered?

Do any of you use plugs that you can still hear an approach well with? I have these cheap, orange, valved plugs you can hear a little with, but they still cause a disadvantage in the woods.

I have a few new guns, and they are just monsters on muzzle blast. I'm not too sure how they'll impact the ears without plugs. I have a 444 Marlin pistol with muzzle brake that you can feel on your face when it goes off. I know one shot will have to leave some good ringing.

The others are guns approaching the 5000-8000ft/lbs range. Granted, their blast is further away due to barrel length, so the cubed root factor of blast pressure is probably about the same as a big pistol by your face.

I'm just curious what these do to guys hunting big game without protection, and if hearing damage has been experienced by any from the big bores like 458 Lott on up.

 

[Eric F]

here are some options
1(what I do) nothing 1 shot will not ruin you
2plugs- put them in just before you have a shot you may miss the shot because you are putting in a plug but hey you can still hear
3plugs keep one in at all times and leave the other out until you see movement
4electric ear peotection listen until you hear somethinf then turn them down before the shot.

 

[Rat-30]

Best hunting gear I own - Peltor Tac6S electronic muffs

Peltor Tactical 6 -

I learned about these 8 years ago, have hunted/shot with them ever since. I wish someone had told me about them earlier...

I know this will cause someone to claim, 'bs', but it's true -

Since hunting with these ear muffs, I've heard / seen more game since hunting before. I hear the deer before I see them. I hear the quail scurrying in the leaves, I heard the hogs grunting before I could see them.

Yes, the wind is noisy, and you have to learn which sounds to ignore, but that's part of the fun.

I bought a pair for my 11-y/o daughter to hunt geese with me last year. We could whisper to each other and hear, and neither of our ears were ringing when the hunt was over.

You can find them for under $100.00 delivered, I have a pair 8 years old that work fine, and are showing long in the tooth on the headband. I'll be buying a cheaper Peltor non-electric pair to donate the parts I need to rebuild.

I never shoot or hunt without them these days.

Good luck - and Merry Christmas!

John

 

[Grumulkin]

I'm trying to figure this one out, as I'm a bit hesitant to lose my hearing at such a young age.

You're smart to try to figure this out at a young age. When I was young, using hearing protection when shooting would have been considered wimpish. As a result, I have tinnitus.

There are several stratagies:

1. Use nothing at all. Not a good choice. Even a few unprotected shots with a 444 Marlin handgun can do damage.

2. Wear an ear plug in one ear (the left ear if right handed). At least you save half your hearing. Still not the best choice.

3. Electronic ear muffs. Not a bad choice and they keep your ears warm. They are a bit bulky though and limit the kind of hat you can wear.

4. The nicest; E.A.R., Inc. electronic hearing protectors molded to your own ear canal (they look and are fitted like a hearing aid). They are a bit pricey (around $1,500 last I checked) but are comfortable to wear all day, don't interfere with hearing and take the pain out of shooting a braked 500 S&W handgun. If you can spend several thousand on guns, the price isn't that bad considering you'll want to use your ears for your whole life.

 

[Yosemite**Sam]

Like someone earlier said 1 shot probably won't ruin your hearing if you're not wearing hearing protection. Multiple shots are not good for your hearing.

If was was teaching someone to shoot or if I was shooting multiple rounds then I would certainly wear hearing protection.

I'm not so sure that using electronic hearing protection while hunting is legal. I know that in some states they restrict the use of hearing devices that amplify sound while hunting.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I don't wear hearing protection while rifle hunting. When out shooting doves I wear a pair of electronic ear muffs.

I'm going to give them a try when I'm out sitting in a deer stand.

 

[Guido2006]

Wear hearing protection. You've got two practical choices:

1) Have ear plugs/ear muffs on hand (ear plugs hanging on a string around your neck for example) This of course requires you to put them in right before the shot, which is not always convenient.

OR

2) Electronic muffs

You will damage your hearing with each shot. You might not notice it, but it will add up over time. I foolishly shot twice from my M1A a month ago, without ear plugs, while hunting and my ears were ringing for 30 minutes afterward. I even had the plugs around my neck, but the deer got close and I figured I would just take the shot rather than risk spooking them. I will definitely not shot without ear plugs again.

Another more expensive but arguably more fun option is to get a suppressor if they are legal to hunt where you are.

 

[eliphalet]

Well lets see, My Dad is 84 been a shooter/hunter all his life, never wore hearing protection, and still hears as good as he did when I was a kid as far as I can tell.
He never did spend time at a range or was he ever much of a centerfire handgun shooter but over the years he has sure shot a lot of critters with rimfire, centerfire, and shotguns.

I would recommend to anyone to always wear hearing protection target shooting but hunting? Nope, you'll be just fine without it. Besides how are other hunters gonna react to a guy with ear muffs on in the woods? I am not much of one to care about how I look in the outdoors but wearing ear muffs would embarrass me, I'd need a mask to hide who I was too, but then I don't shoot megamagnums with muzzel breaks either

 

[Jayb]

Would you rather be fashion conscious, or hearing impaired? If you doubt those of us who are telling/suggesting you to use hearing protection, check the phone book for "audiologist" and ask a professional, or ask your doctor. Everyone has their own opinion, and mine is.... it's stupid to shoot rimfire, or centerfire firearms without hearing protection.

http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/inside/spr06/pg2.asp

 

[dragonfirex]

I'm 33 years old ,lost most of my hearing at the age of 25, hardly ever used hearing protection ,paying the price now , ringing in my ears so bad that i was told that it can drive grown men insane ,and it damn near has ,just one blast from a firearm can get you started down this road ,hunting ,shooting my hearing protection is used ,yes its a little harder to hunt this way but i still put meat on the table ,you should always use protection regardless where your at, when i ask the doc if i would ever get a good nights sleep or have any piece and quiet , i was told (when your dead) Listen and learn my friends .

 

[Grumulkin]

I'm not so sure that using electronic hearing protection while hunting is legal. I know that in some states they restrict the use of hearing devices that amplify sound while hunting.

In what "states," pray tell, would that be? ALL hearing aids amplify sound so that would mean that deaf people couldn't wear hearing aids while hunting.

And for all of those whose grandfather never used hearing protection and still has wonderful hearing, lots of luck; may the force be with you. There are also some who copulate without protection and never get HIV, never get the girl pregnant, etc.

 

[Harve Curry]

I use to have loud ringing in my ears, tenitis, till a went to help a old timer get up from his blind. We had been hunting for a few days and had developed a routine of him handing me his rifle. This time he did it different and as I was at his side and facing him, he absent mindedly pulled the trigger. The round went off over my shoulder from a muzzle breaked 7mm magnum. So I don't have that ringing anymore but things are a bit queiter in general.

 

[Rat-30]

I vote for the fashion conscious AND for hearing...

No camo felonies for me... Maybe camo misdemeanors...

My camo almost 'always' matches, and I always wear the Peltor Tac6 (for the ability to get a good cheek-weld with rifle or shotgun), sometimes I wear a face mask, sometimes full hoodie, almost always the cap. I am limited to the hat I can wear, no cowboy type with this model of muff, but I don't wear those hats anyway...

I know an electronic 'call' is illegal with a couple of exceptions here in Texas, but I'm not aware of any restrictions on 'electronic amplifying hearing protection'... There is a restriction on hunting with supressors in Texas, or I would be using one, that's for certain. It's legal in Arkansas the last time I checked, but the Peltors solve all of my problems in that area for me, right now.

My ears stay warm, and that helps me tolerate the cold SO much better.

 

[Coltdriver]

Hearing damage happens every time you expose your ears to excessive noise. It is cumulative.

If your ears are ringing after exposure to noise, you damaged them.

I have tinitus from concerts, shooting and airplanes. Since I did not want to end up deaf I started getting very aggressive about protecting my hearing several years ago.

I use peltor electronic muffs. They keep my ears warm and protect my hearing. The ability to turn up the sound sensitivity is a plus especially if you are sitting still.

If you do use electronic muffs and you sweat much, like I do after a couple of miles in the mountains, you will ruin them pretty quicklly. I ruined my first pair. There is one easy trick that will preserve your muffs.

Take the ear pads and foam centers off and put a piece of saran wrap or somthing similar over the electronics then put the pads back on. Trim around the edge and viola, waterproofed electronics.

Does not hurt the sensitivity one bit.

Any hearing protection is a nuisance, but not being able to hear is a permanent problem. So I encourage everyone to take care of their ears.

 

[Rat-30]

Coltdriver - Great tip on the waterproofing!

I've completely dunked mine while duck hunting, shook the water out, removed the batteries and continued to hunt. Went home and let them air dry for a few days, replaced with new batteries, work fine.

I have sweat enough in mine to cause the batteries to corrode, cleaned up with baking soda/water on a rag.

I replace the batteries 2x or more per year, always make sure I take them out and baggie them after hunting season. I clean the contacts 2x year since the sweat/corrosion problem 4 years ago...

I did forget to go over all of the maintenance I've performed to keep these alive over the last 8 years, I did think I had ruined them a couple of times, but they keep coming back. I've tried a few of the other brands, dillon, remington, no-name, etc. None have the sound quality and comfort of the Peltors.

Can you tell I like the Peltor Tac6S?

Link to Tac6

Link to Tac6 at Botach (YMMV)

Link to Tac6 at Cabelas

 

[Art Eatman]

Hearing loss from high db impacts is cumulative. Without protection, extended range sessions are Very Bad.

I'm not at all saying to not use some sort of protection while hunting, particularly for birds, but for deer hunting's one or two shots the amount of damage is pretty much trivial.

Compared to deer hunting shots, just living in a city and working around such things as heavy industry or airports is a helluva lot worse.

 

[Yosemite**Sam]

Grumulkin Said:

In what "states," pray tell, would that be? ALL hearing aids amplify sound so that would mean that deaf people couldn't wear hearing aids while hunting.

You seem to have a computer available for use. Conduct a search of the internet you will find that numerous states have exempted amplified hearing protection from hunting regulations.

Notice that in my post I said, I'm not so sure that they would be legal. But if you wish to challenge my post let's take it off THR.

 

[Titan6]

Hunting/ stalking are only times that I do not wear the hearing protection when shooting. I find that the earplugs that are supposed to allow you to hear normal tones and muffle loud noises do neither job adequately. This might just be me so be sure to try them out yourself. Some of the more expensive muffs work a little better but... are not very friendly to wear through the woods. But always wear when shooting at the range, esp indoors.

 

[oklahoma caveman]

i think there is a walkers game ear ear muffs that at a certain db level shut down or whatever

 

[chemist308]

The 'correct' answer is to wear hearing protection with everything that goes bang. I aquired some minor high frequency loss to my right ear due to never using protection at the range when I was between 17 and 24... I never knew that I'd done damage; it was a normal work physical involving a hearing test that caught it. Since then, I've adopted a few sensible rules that have so far kept that damage from getting worse...maybe they'll work for you to. First, let me put my fire retardent suit on

1. Hearing protection with every pistol, and with every long arm over 22lr when at the range.
2. Hearing protection for hunts involving multiple shots and bag limits over 2 (ie: ducks, doves, etc.)
3. No hearing protection is normally worn for deer hunting (with 308 rifle or 50cal muzzle loader used), as I only ever expect to fire one or two shots. I carry ear plugs with me though in the unlikely event that I need to provide a downed animal with a humane end.

That said, if I owned something like a 444 Marlin pistol, I'd definitely ammend rule 3 to include hearing protection for larger arms.

 

[peterotte]

I'm trying to figure this one out, as I'm a bit hesitant to lose my hearing at such a young age.

There is no way I will fire a gun without hearing protection! With earplugs, I can still hear leaves rustling, plus, I can hear my own noise better. Earplugs are inadequate with a short-barrelled gun or a more powerful gun without a muzzle blast deflector or moderator.

Every time your ears ring, some hearing loss has occurred! That means every time you fire a gun without hearing protection and even then, (like at the range next to a muzzle braked gun), hearing damage can still occur.

I have a muzzle blast deflector on my rifle - it has the same effect as a longer barrel would have. It reduces the peak intensity and directs the blast forward. I am heading out to buy an electronic Peltor right now!

 

[cobrian45]

I have, in my youth as a guide, taken some snap shots sans ear protection. Dumb thing to do. I currently do either one of two things.

Most of the shooting/hunting I do I'm wearing Walker Game ears. They do cut out at the shot and I've not had a problem with them for the 4 years I've been using them. I've had a local hearing aid guy form fit some silicone plugs to go along with them. Total cost was very reasonable. I got a deal on mine, but retail for this would run you less than $500 for two with formed silicone plugs. You could also opt for one foam plug and one regular one and spend (obviously) half that. You could also forego the silicone and just get one Game Ear and a regular plug and spend under $200.

If the batteries are dying in the Game Ears I will keep a set of muffs handy to put on before the shot. I keep 3-4 different types of hearing protection in my hunting bag just in case. I've never missed out on a shot doing this.

 

[jrfoxx]

I used to hunt with no hearing protection.now I use electronic muffs that not only protect my hearing, but, I can crank the volume all the way up, and actually hear WAY better than I could without them, so I think thats the best way to go when hunting.you protect your hearing, and at the same time, can hear way better than I could without protection.thats a big win-win IMHO, especially since I already have hearing damage from the Nav, so I'm taking no chances with it getting any worse

 

[bdg146]

You could also forego the silicone and just get one Game Ear and a regular plug and spend under $200.

Maybe I'm missing something, but looks to me like one Game Ear is almost $500. Is there a different model you are talking about??

 

[sam700]

I paid about $129 for my game ear about 6 months ago, works great.