Hunting ear protection with sound enhancement

[jmr40]

Something to check on is if it is legal to hunt with enhanced hearing devices. I like the idea but last time I checked it wasn't legal in GA. I use electronic headphones at the range and double up when shooting the 50bmg

Not saying you're wrong, but I can't find anything in the regulations prohibiting them. No electronic communication devices are allowed. Meaning radios or cell phone communication. If you can find anything to document this let me know.

I'd like to find something. Just over 10 years ago I lost the hearing in my right ear (not shooting or noise related). I CAN hear well enough for most situations, but anything from the right side has to be close. And figuring out which direction is near impossible with one ear. It wouldn't be any worse with muff's. At least hearing something before it gets right in my lap would help. I've blown shots at deer 3 times already this year. Turkey hunting is near impossible for me now.

I have some of the Walker Razor's that I use at the range and I like them. I usually keep the volume turned off at the range, but it is nice to be able to communicate while others are still shooting. I haven't tried them hunting but need to.

 

[daniel craig]

I’d like to see what you guys think the best electronic earmuffs for hunting is. I made the mistake of shooting with a muzzle break, with no muffs, and will never do that again. 1 shot made my ear ring for 24 hours and that ear still feels numb and water logged. I want muffs and not the small ear pieces because I’m afraid I’ll just lose those. Looking for comfort to wear hunting all day, with sound control, and something that has a high rating for decibels. Not looking to see what you personally have, but what do you think is the best on the market for what I’m looking for, or what would you buy if you were in the market right now. Is there a brand notoriously more comfortable than another? Thanks

Best? No idea. I wear my walkers razors for hunting and very much like them. Honestly though, I’d use just about anything if it meant keeping my hearing. Being observant and looking around has done me a lot more good during hunting than relying on sounds.

 

[buck460XVR]

The Walker Quad models (2 microphones on each side) do a good job with directional sound.

^^^These are what I am using as of right now.

 

[HoosierHunter128]

I just got my first bill from the ear doctor. They took a needle and went through my eardrum to shoot my “coil” with steroids. I’ve had 2 shots now, one week apart. He says it could take 4-8 of these steroid shots for my ear to repair itself. $1100 a shot. Does anyone have experience with this? This seems atrocious. Will my ear fix itself? Has anyone else had immediate hearing loss, which improves weekly, and then gets back to normal?

 

[westernrover]

I had immediate hearing loss from gunfire. Almost total loss in both ears. I couldn't hear anything for the rest of that day. I regained some hearing the next day and most of it gradually came back. I had my ears tested about 7 years later and there was some loss evident on the audiogram at certain frequencies. I could function without hearing aides. I have mild tinitus all the time, all day, every day. I had another audiogram about 12 years after the first: same result. Treatment was never suggested, but it might have been different had I gone to see the doc right after the loss. Then again, thirty years ago they may not have had anything they would have done.

See a different ear doctor from a different practice/group/hospital-affiliation and get their advice. They may be more conservative or they may agree with the same treatment plan. Then decide which you'd rather trust and go with their advice. The cost of a consultation would certainly be far less than the next visit to the current doc.

 

[HoosierHunter128]

Just talked to a buddy…never considered a can until now. What do your guys think? I may start a new thread on what is the best suppressor out there right now. That seems like it might be a necessity from now on. I still have a clear difference between my two ears, and have a bit of tenitis. What do your guys think is the best suppressor out there for accuracy and noise. Who makes the best?

 

[HoosierHunter128]

I had immediate hearing loss from gunfire. Almost total loss in both ears. I couldn't hear anything for the rest of that day. I regained some hearing the next day and most of it gradually came back. I had my ears tested about 7 years later and there was some loss evident on the audiogram at certain frequencies. I could function without hearing aides. I have mild tinitus all the time, all day, every day. I had another audiogram about 12 years after the first: same result. Treatment was never suggested, but it might have been different had I gone to see the doc right after the loss. Then again, thirty years ago they may not have had anything they would have done.

See a different ear doctor from a different practice/group/hospital-affiliation and get their advice. They may be more conservative or they may agree with the same treatment plan. Then decide which you'd rather trust and go with their advice. The cost of a consultation would certainly be far less than the next visit to the current doc.

I hadn’t considered a second opinion. I tried to find the best around me…I’ll see someone else for sure…$1100 a shot is incredible

 

[daniel craig]

Wear your ear pro people!

 

[westernrover]

I hadn’t considered a second opinion. I tried to find the best around me…I’ll see someone else for sure…$1100 a shot is incredible

I was reading about this: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28125313/

It looks like the shots in the ear are better than just oral prednisolone alone, according to the research above and: https://www.cambridge.org/core/jour...ise-exposure/1C9524A004F708695917604826958B14

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1460408618755191

Your doc(s) can give you specific advice, but if mine told me to take those shots, I think I'd pay up.

Your suppressor thread got me looking into those. They involve trade-offs like extra weight, length, the expense, waiting period, and they won't fit a lot of guns practically. I hope to get one for a new hunting rifle, but I don't think I'm going to have my classic Winchester threaded and it won't be practical for my EDC handgun. What else I learned is that sound pressure level is strongly correlated to muzzle pressure.

These guys did the work to measure pressure at various points along a barrel: https://ndiastorage.blob.core.usgov...0/armament/WednesdayCumberlandPhilipDater.pdf

Quickload is an easy way to calculate muzzle pressure with various parameters like cartridge, bullet, seating depth, powder, charge mass, and barrel length.

Things that reduce muzzle pressure:
Longer barrels
Bigger bores
Faster powders (peak pressure happens earlier with less area under the pressur/time curve and lower velocity)
Shorter seating depth (45 ACP vs. 45 LC) - has a similar effect to a faster powder

 

[redneck]

Double check that its legal to use a supressor while hunting in your state. Seems stupid but it wasn't very long ago that it was illegal in Ohio.

I use a pair of Walker electric earmuffs. The cheap ones that only have one mic on each side. They work well enough for me and I never go gun hunting without them now.

 

[HoosierHunter128]

At the ear doctor now. My hearing is back to 100%. I just got my last steroids shot. Seeing me in 2 months to make sure it doesn’t go down after the steroids aren’t being given any longer. Great news. I’ve learned my lesson

 

[outdoorman63]

My wife uses her walkers that she uses at the range. She likes the enhanced sound.