What ear protection do you use to hunt?

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glockman19

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What ear protection do you use to hunt? I want to hear my surroundings but don't want to go deaf.

I'm looking for something not a bulky as the Plexor Ultimate 10 Earmuffs Blue by Peltor (NRR 30dB). Has anyone used the, Peltor Tactical PRO Stereo Behind the Head Electronic Earmuffs Black (NRR 25dB), or the Peltor Tactical 6S Behind the Head Stereo Electronic Earmuffs (NRR 19dB)?
 
And not to hijack this, but while we're on the topic what have folks found works best for sweaty heads and/or rain? I'm leery about putting down c notes on something that's going to make me too hot or get screwed up if it gets wet. And here in the late summer, everything gets wet.
 
I bought a set of Peltors to go hunting with. Think they're the "Tactical Sport" set. Paid a little over a bill for them, IIRC. Wore them over my camo cap, and they worked GREAT! NRR of something like 20, w/ sound amplification that I felt naked without after a while.

They're not super cheap, but they weren't three bills, either. It did rain during our hunt, but it was sporadic showers at most. Didn't affect the muffs at all. I'd say they're worth looking into, at least.

Just my experience. Hope that helps! :)
 
I keep a pair of earplugs on a lanyard around my neck. Usually, I have time to put them in before taking a shot, and if I don't...well, one shot isn't going to make me deaf, I hope.
 
Interesting question. What do you use, rifle, shotgun or handgun? I use a shotgun and have had no problems without ear protectors. Tried handgun hunting and wore ear plugs. For me, it didn't last long. I need to hear the sounds of the woods. I'm curious as well, as to what ear muffs work best.
 
For hunting and down the range i use a pair of Peltor Sport Tac. My hearing isn't what it was thanks to Woodpigeon shooting in the 60's and 70's when it was not unusual to shoot 200 cartridges a day.Never gave it a thought to use ear protection. So now i wear ear protection even when i mow the grass.
 
What do you use, rifle, shotgun or handgun?
Click to expand...
Good Question. With a Rifle I shoot a Remington 700 in .30-06, and soon to be owned Marlin 1894 in .44 mag. With a Revolver It's a S&W 686 or S&W 629 so .357 & .44 mag. And of course sometimes a 12 gague Shotgun with slugs
 
This is a pretty well documented situation. There's info everywhere on the web. You have to remember hearing loss is cumulative.

http://www.dangerousdecibels.org/hearingloss.cfm

If you continue his chart:

118db - 15s
121db - 7.5s
124db - 3.7s
127db - 1.8s
130db - .9s
133db - .45s
136db - .225s
139db - .112s
141db - .056s
143db - .028s
146db - .014s
149db - .007s
152db - .003s

Now look at noise figures for rifles,shotguns,pistols:
http://www.freehearingtest.com/hia_gunfirenoise.shtml

Then estimate that a gunshot is ~2ms.

The estimate noise for a .357 out of a handgun is 164db. If you wear a 19db attenuator you hear 145db. Take .014s as an estimate maximum worst case exposure time. That means you can be exposed to 7 shots per day.
 
what have folks found works best for sweaty heads and/or rain?
Click to expand...

What do you mean? On the gun?

Rem-Oil Wipes in the pocket. Bullfrog Rusthunter spray is good, too, especially back at home. I'm unimpressed with Barricade wipes, because they seem pretty dry compared to Rem-Oil. Not enough oil in the Barricades to displace water from an entire wet long gun, in my unscientific opinion. Wipe down with Rem-Oil wipe each night before hitting the sack, if the gun gets wet and sweaty on a camping trip.

I do find that polished blue guns with something like Rem Oil wiped onto them shed rain and resist sweat better than anything rough or "satin finish." A LOT better.

Stainless doesn't hurt, of course.

Or did you mean something else?
 
Well, it ain't PC, but I don't wear hearing protection. I'll take my muffs and put 'em over my head and slip 'em down before the shot when I'm hunting with that LOUD compensated contender, especially out of box blinds, but bird hunting, rifle hunting, I never bothered. I still have good hearing. I never wore hearing protection while racing motorcycles either, just never remembered the ear plugs in my haste at third call for grid. Should have, I know. Now, I wore 'em religiously at work, loud chemical plant equipment, and I wear 'em religiously any time I'm plinking, even with a .22, or target shooting, but not for hunting.

I could wear plugs when bird hunting, do more shooting bird hunting, but I like the hear my environment while stand hunting game. They got all these Walker's Game Ear type ear plugs now. I just haven't wanted to spend the money. Be easier than pulling those muffs down when contender hunting, but they're expensive. I'm 55 now and no hearing loss....yet.

Stainless doesn't hurt, of course.

Or did you mean something else?
Click to expand...

Living in Texas when it's sometimes 95 degrees during dove or teal season, yeah, muffs are a PITA. The sweat is very irritating, then there's rainy duck mornings. I just go without, but ear plugs would be the only way to me. I wouldn't want electronics while duck hunting. The rain is one thing, but if I dropped a 100 dollar ear plug in the water, I doubt it'd survive.

That's what he meant, i believe.
 
What do you mean? On the gun?
Click to expand...

No, on the expensive electronic ear muffs. How well do they hold up in rough conditions? I have been unwilling to buy them because I'm afraid they'll get ruined quickly.
 
Oh.

A 12 Gauge doesn't bother me at all, when I'm shooting it. Neither does a .22LR. Both can be quite loud when someone shoots the thing next to you, especially near a rock wall or something.

I wouldn't wear muffs in the field unless there's a damn good reason. It's kinda warm here, too. Rubber earplugs should work fine. The ones with string between them can be tucked into a collar for ready use, and they're cheap.
 
Where I'm duck hunting, it's open marsh. The only rocks are on the road in, the limestone it's made out of. Not real rocky around here.

One thing about the foam ear plugs (have a ton of 'em here), they take a minute to expand into the ear canal. If you're needing to make a shot, why bother. LOL I don't like 'em at the range, either, rather use muffs. When someone picks up a gun to shoot, I wanna be ready right now. But, if you wanted to use 'em bird hunting, you could just put 'em in and hunt and if they did fall in the water, no big deal. But, they're not the greatest at the range. I keep a few in my range box for guests or if I forget my muffs, though.
 
I wear ordinary Peltors on top of my head, then pull them down if I have a shot. Worked pretty well last year. I'm going to get some ~$100 range stereo muffs this year so I can wear them all day.

ear plugs? how many shots do you need?
Click to expand...

When your ears ring as bad as mine, one is too many.
 
I put hearing protection on the end of my hunting guns.

Silencers are wonderful. .22LR for rabbits SUPPRESSED. .233 & 9mm for Humans and Coyotes SUPPRESSED. .300WeatherbyMag for Moose, Elk & Deer... SUPPRESSED.

No more hearing damage.

Best thing you can buy IMO for a firearm accessory.

Semper Fidelis
 
Didn't occur to me to use protection hunting--I used to shotgun hunt without any--but it's a great idea. The Peltors (I actually use ProEars) could actually be an asset: they not only amplify sound, but also compress it. In other words, louder sounds become relatively quieter, and quiet sounds become relatively louder.

A bit like using those listening devices, except (1) less directional, (2) hands free, and (3) better protection from louder noises.
 
I'm with you USMC, but I a) don't have the $$, and b) they aren't legal to use in Washington State (legal to own though, oddly enough).
 
I don't usually use ear plugs when hunting but at the range I have ear plugs that where molded to my ear and only allow sounds of 80 decibles or less to pass through. I worked at a cabinet shop where alot of noisy tool were running all the time. The company paid for them and if I remember correctly they where around $100. They put a mold into my ear and then sent them off. I recieved them about two weeks later and I love them. They are form fitted to each ear so putting them into the wrong ear is impossible. Right away you can feel that they don't belong. I use them at the range and even when mowing the lawn. I can hear a conversation just fine with them in. There is a slight muffling effect from them but that is easy to over come. I wear them all day and they are never a bother to me. I would think that for blind hunting they would be ideal. Never have to worry about gathering a string and finding the ear plug at the end. As for stalking I like to be able to hear every sound in its natural state so I haven't used them for that purpose. I'm not sure where a guy could get ear plugs like mine except for maybe at a hearing store or somethnig similar. Good hunting
 
A friend of mine was looking for the same ear plugs. We went to a hearing aid center for help and the doctor said that he could help with those kind of ear plugs. I would suggest calling around to local hearing centers for help. I've had mine for six years and I cannot remember the name of the maker of these plugs. They stick a moldable material in your ear and let it "set up" for about 60 seconds or so. Then they have a perfect mold of you ear. The ones I recieved where sent to somewhere in Texas to be made. I believe they are well worth the money. I use them during all phase's of home construction and they haven't failed me yet. When in an indoor gun range they are great as well. You always have some protection in your ear. I use with a set of ear muffs when shooting at the range, indoor or out. I have a problem with the expandable foam ear plugs as they tend to start hurting my ears. They aren't cheap, but then at what price do we put our hearing at? Good luck with your search.
 
Thanks! If they work, I'm willing to pay. I've learned not to take my hearing lightly. Already exposure to bangs has destroyed some of my very high range hearing, and I don't want to lose any more than I have to.
 
Don't use hearing protection when I'm hunting . . . too many other things I want to hear & it's 1 or 2 shots, not a repetitive volley.
 
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