Hunting and Hearing Protection

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gbeauvin

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Do you guys wear hearing protection when you hunt? If so, what do you wear? I went hunting for the first time last weekend (small game at the local WMA), and I carried my muffs with me but didn't end up wearing them much. I wanted to be able to hear, yet I'd also like to maintain my hearing for the long term -- my Dad is practically deaf and I see how that impacts his life. I also already have tinnitus, though I'm not sure if that's linked to actual hearing loss.

What do you guys recommend?

thanks,
GB
 
I never have for deer hunting.
Duck hunting I wear earplugs. I have to have something then. 5 guns cracking in a metal blind will ring your ears, let me tell you.
 
Yes, tinnitus is linked to hearing loss.

I wear hearing protection while hunting. If I don't need to hear much, I wear plain ear muffs. If I also wish to hear, I wear electronic ear muffs that turn off when a loud sound occurs. My best I save for when I need to wear something all day that doesn't get in the way; E.A.R., Inc. custom electronic hearing protectors which make shooting even a braked 460 S&W Magnum comfortable; pricey but worth it.
 
I never use hearing protection when hunting. I only hunt coyotes and big game and have never fired more than 2 shots. Besides, I need to hear the stuff around me. My brain is not tuned to hearing aid amplifiers and am not able to discern natural sound by modified electronic sound.
 
I used to not use it. Then I started hearing ringing in my ears at night when I laid down to sleep.

Now I wear it all the time. I use ear muffs, but I keep them on my head just above my ears. That lets me hear everything...then when I'm about to take a shot I just ease them down over my ears. It takes no time to do and it keeps me from damaging my hearing.

I have a muzzle break on my gun too so it's incredibly loud for the shooter when it goes off.

I wouldn't wear them when squirrel hunting with a .22 but for anything larger I have them.
 
Although I didn't even fire 1 shot in the 3 hours I was out, my hope is that I'll be firing multiple shots on future hunts (both squirrel and rabbit limit at 8 'round these parts). My eventual plan is to use a muzzleloader, but for now I've got an old single-shot 12ga with blackpowder (actually pyrodex, ugh) shells. I'd be tempted to just forgo the hearing protection if I were shooting a .22, but the big boom of BP 12ga shells worries me on the hearing loss front. I'll look into electronic muffs. Should be plenty of time to save some pennies before next fall -- are the "budget" models in the $40-$50 range worth looking at?

-GB
 
Depends on what I'm shooting. I wear electronic hearing protection most of the time. Mine have the Pro Mag Gold series which have 30 NRR which is the highest at the time when I bough mine. The electrons are so good it actually improves your hearing. At the indoor range I use plugs too.
 
An inexpensive compromise are the ear plugs with a movable "piston" that allows hearing (reduced) but also closes off to stop loud concussive noises.
It is better to wear electronic muffs but something is better than nothing.
 
I wear them when I run a chainsaw, mow the grass, operate a tractor for any period of time, and obviously for any repeated shooting like dove hunting . But, for an occasional shot at a deer I think it's a little much.
 
My best I save for when I need to wear something all day that doesn't get in the way; E.A.R., Inc. custom electronic hearing protectors which make shooting even a braked 460 S&W Magnum comfortable; pricey but worth it.
Click to expand...
I have the base model of these without filters or electronics. They are VERY comfortable. One day I'll probably break down and buy an electronic set.

I've got an electronic set of muffs if I want or need to hear surroundings more. For something where I don't need to hear surroundings, I'll usually go with those EAR, Inc plugs. Plugs and muffs for the range.
 
I've started using a pair of electronic ear muffs. They have microphones which allow you to hear what's around you, but which shut off when the noise level gets too high. When I shoot my AR-10 I just hear a "WHOOMP!"

The microphones work pretty well. There is a separate mic for each ear so you hear stereo and can tell from which direction sound is coming. The level is adjustable so I set it to hear a little better than normal. The first time I used them I kept hearing a rustling sound. It was the leaves I was walking on. The amplified sound was louder than without the muffs. A nice feature about the set I bought (I bought a pair so that my hunting buddy and I can each have a set) is that they have an input for a MP3 player. I use that input to connect a FRS radio. Now we can spread out and still communicate without having to shout. If we want to be really quiet we just click the mic button to get the other's attention and then use hand signals.

http://www.amazon.com/Caldwell-Profile-Electronic-Hearing-Protection/dp/B00BD4VETI?
 
gbeauvin said:
Although I didn't even fire 1 shot in the 3 hours I was out, my hope is that I'll be firing multiple shots on future hunts (both squirrel and rabbit limit at 8 'round these parts). My eventual plan is to use a muzzleloader, but for now I've got an old single-shot 12ga with blackpowder (actually pyrodex, ugh) shells. I'd be tempted to just forgo the hearing protection if I were shooting a .22, but the big boom of BP 12ga shells worries me on the hearing loss front. I'll look into electronic muffs. Should be plenty of time to save some pennies before next fall -- are the "budget" models in the $40-$50 range worth looking at?

-GB
Click to expand...
Howard Leight muffs are pretty good - around your price range, will allow you to hear/ amplify sounds, & cut out when you shoot. They are good if you are sitting still, like squirrel or deer hunting, kind of hard to wear if you are walking briskly & need to take snap shots at moving game like upland birds or rabbits. I would go with the baffled plugs in those situations.

I use Walkers Game Ears for most everything. They are like hearing aids with foam plugs that insert into your ears, but they are pretty expensive ( save Cabela's points).

You are smart to do everything you can to protect your hearing. I grew up hunting before we knew about the cumulative damage that occurs with exposure to loud noise, & I have some tinnitus and significant hearing loss in one ear. Every shot does a little permanent damage, & it accumulates over time.
 
Ditto on the Leight electronic ear muffs.

I wear them deer hunting--lots of sitting time in the woods and only one shot, but I wear them anyway. I turn the sound up til I'm hearing too much wind and leaves blowing, then back it down. The report of the 12ga slug gun is a muffled whump.

Hearing loss is cumulative and I've already gotten started. I'm 61 and been shotgunning rabbits since jr. high. Always wore ear plugs or muffs at the range, but never when hunting deer, rabbits, pheasants, squirrels.

Had my hearing checked twice in the last 3 yrs and I'm seeing hearing loss in the higher and lower frequencies. Some of it age related, but I'm not going to add to it w/ the occasional loud bang at a deer!

The Leight muffs work for me. Tried the baffled ear plugs at the range once and it was painful.
 
I use plugs if I'm in a blind (I can put them in before taking a shot without being seen), and Howard Leight electronic muffs if I'm in a stand.
 
Eh? What's that?

I never wore ear protection while hunting in the past, but I recently bought a pair of Leight electronic muffs. Tinnitus is a pain in the r..ear. Hearing while hunting is important. Hearing period is so much more important.
 
One night last week I met a good friend for a "pig out" at a local Oyster Feast.
As the B.S. progressed, he politely showed me hearing aids that he had in BOTH ears.
Yep! I was shocked but as he explained his aids were the result of a random hearing test at, of all places, our local Cabella's.
His hearing loss is mostly hereditary and partially by industrial exposure.
At any rate, he is very well pleased and the "aids" are not noticeable.
 
We never considered hearing protection years ago and I have shot thousands of rounds with total disregard. Not so for several previous years though. My gun hunting however is mostly for deer here in Penn's Woods and I don't think a shot or two is gonna make a difference!
 
if you feel that way, by all means wear some. One thought though, out of all the pic`s, movies and actual hunting experiences have you seen anyone wearing .....muffs or what ever ? J s/n.
 
In the 60s i used to do a lot of pigeon shooting without ear protection. Also years of deer stalking without hearing protection.
I wear Peltor sporttac ear defenders for all my range and hunting shooting now.
I have tinnitus and have been fitted with hearing aids 6 months ago.
Don't kid yourself, every shot without ear protection will damage your hearing.
Once your hearings gone its gone for good.

Just a bit of advice from a deaf old git;)
 
For the first time in in over 40 years of hunting I tried plugs this year while hunting whitetail with a handgun. Didn't get any shots(again :( ) and it was a pain trying to hear, so I started fussing with taking one out and that led to fidgeting and distractions, I doubt I'll do it next season.
 
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If you already have some tinnitus don't do anything to make it worse.

I have used a set of Peltor 6s for the last twenty years and have hundreds of hours of experience with them. They're light, fold up to fit in a cargo pocket and do a wonderful job of turning my 20" turkey shotgun's BOOM into a faraway boom.

It's tempting to turn up the volume so you can hear everything better, but I've found that it makes it difficult to judge where sounds are coming from and how far away they are, so I take a few seconds to adjust each ear to ambient level.

Best money I ever spent.
 
For those saying that just a few shots a season won't hurt, you are wrong. You get the same amount of damage shooting 10 times a season for 20 years that you would if you went out and shot 200 rounds at the range in a single outing.
It just happens a little at a time, and is not noticeable until it is too late.
Save your hearing and find some type of plug, muff, or in ear device that will work for you. Get a consult with a good ENT doc or audiologist - they will tell you the same thing, & may be able to help with custom electronic plugs. Expensive, but your hearing is worth it.
 
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