Ear protection while hunting

[Borngeechee]

After firing that 12 gauge in the woods and getting a quick ringing in my right ear, I realized that that could lead to damage later on. So I ordered a pair of electronic hearing protectors. The ones that amplify sounds around you but muffler the gun blast. Does anyone else wear hearing protection while hunting?

[jjb4900]

"could" result in damage? believe me, it eventually will if you don't protect yourself now........

[Hock3y24]

I had a pair that claimed to amplify the non loud sounds, they didn't. So I don't wear any for hunting but there great for the range.

[Curmudgeon]

I keep plastic ear plugs on a string around my neck. As soon as a I see a deer, before even identifying it and deciding if I want to shoot it, I put the plugs in. Once in a great while one will come up on me quick and I don't use. 90% of the time I do.

 

I don't want it to get worse.

[grampy]

What?????........

 

Oh yeah, wish I would have used ear protection more, when I was younger.

[ants]

I  have had  a constant ringing in my right ear (tinnitus) for 30 years. I got it from shooting at a deer. You get use to it but its no fun.

[NYbuck50]

i use protection on the range or if im in an enclosed ground blind. outside of that im usually in the zone and dont really here or feel the shot

[Mr VJP]

Personally, I think hunters should be more concerned with eye protection while hunting.  There are many things in the woods that can really hurt your eyes.

 

If you are shooting in the open, the blast from the muzzle of your gun won't be as loud as it will be if there is a tree or a wall near it that reflects the blast back at your ears.

 

One or two gun shots in the field isn't really a big problem for most people's ears.  It's repetitive muzzle blasts over a short period of time that will most likely damage your hearing.

 

Of course if your ears take a single hit from a very loud bomb just once, you may suffer hearing loss.

[turkeyfeathers]

"could" result in damage? believe me, it eventually will if you don't protect yourself now........

What ? Speak up ! I can't hear you

[Two Track]

I carry a pair of ear plugs that are on a string.  I have worn them more often mowing the yard than while hunting.  Wear them more often small game/bird hunting than deer hunting.

 

When it is freezing cold and have a hat on with the hood up, not much can be heard then any way.

 

The magnum rounds seem harsher on the ears than do the 2 3/4 shells to me.

 

They also have to compete with my Bluetooth for when my wife calls (to check up on me) or dad calls me to say he got one down or is tracking one he hit (never mind that we are hunting 5 hours apart by car ride in another state)

[Doc]

Sure.....That stuff ranks right up there with all the other things that fall in the category of "If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself".

 

Yeah, my hearing is slipping a bit. Well, maybe more than just a bit .... lol. Some of it due to shooting, some of it due to loud music, and most of it due to who-the-hell-knows-what. It is good stuff to consider. From what I have heard and read, damage comes mostly from repetitive abuse, so I am not sure how bad the occasional shot from hunting actually is. I know target shooting can beat the hell out of your ears. You had better learn to talk extra loud if you plan on conversing with most of the older competitive shooters.

[Core]

I've read enough posts from people who had massive ringing for weeks or longer from one hunting shot to know there's no way I will ever fire a gun without ear protection unless defending myself. A single large blast can definitely cause permanent damage.

 

I bought the howard leight $40 electronic ear muffs from amazon this week to test (because foam ear plugs cut too much ambient noise). They are effective and would work, but not comfortable for long periods (nor can I think of a way to hang them around the neck or head area comfortably). Next up I will try some of the $11 ear plugs that are rated at 22 dbr but claim not to impact hearing too much. I think on amazon they are under hunting ear plugs or similar. Worst case, some regular foam plugs hung around the neck.

 

Even at the range I plan on stacking the foam ear plugs with the electronic ear muffs. Even suppressed gun fire up close is ultimately adding to the cumulative level of wear on your ears, so you should do all you can to limit it.

[nyantler]

What?... I didn't hear the question.

[Kate00]

Yes...it's a real problem...but we should somehow deal with it

[Kill Them All]

Hello Hunters,

 

I never used ear plugs while  hunting. You can call me  stupid, i like 

the crack of the gun.  If you are turkey hunting and he or  she see you

you know the deal, just go buy your turkey for thanksgiving.

 

[bkln]

Sorry, never used them, I guess the adrenaline takes over when you hunt. Range shooting is a different story, I always have them on.....

[Curmudgeon]

It would seem reasonable to allow some noise suppression on firearms. What are the rules? I know silencers are illegal but we don't need that. We need to lower the db level to something less damaging.

[NFA-ADK]

What?  Please look at me when you talk.  How did that deer get within 10 yards of me?  What?  My hearing if fine you just need to talk louder.

[ATbuckhunter]

I have always used ear muffs for hunting. Every single shot from a caliber bigger then 22 shot will cause damage after every shot...especially deer hunting calibers. I used to use cheap ear muffs that gardeners use which worked well but i bought a pair of Howard light and those things are amazing. I only put them on when I see a deer or hear a deer. 

[Two Track]

i hear the ringing right now..... wait that is the office AC.

 

Seriously though, we should be taking better care of our hearing.

I have heard of noise suppressed shotguns, but NY would probably ban them.

 

I spent years performing in band (concert, stage, and marching band) through college, and gone to a couple of rock concerts.  I know I do not hear the same as I once did.  I notice ringing after being at a concert or other loud on-going sounds.  I notice the loudness more when mowing the lawn than i did as a teenager.

 

Maybe there should be a push for reduced sound levels in firearms for everyone's hearing protection.  There are mufflers for cars, shouldn't there be an similar device be produced for firearms without it falling into the "silencer" category.

 

Meanwhile, Lets start using some ear-plugs or other hearing protection in addition to wearing vision protection.  Wearing shooting glasses has protected my eyes more than once from a low thin branch while pushing through brush.  A scratched cornea is no fun.

[Core]

i hear the ringing right now..... wait that is the office AC.

 

Seriously though, we should be taking better care of our hearing.

I have heard of noise suppressed shotguns, but NY would probably ban them.

 

I spent years performing in band (concert, stage, and marching band) through college, and gone to a couple of rock concerts.  I know I do not hear the same as I once did.  I notice ringing after being at a concert or other loud on-going sounds.  I notice the loudness more when mowing the lawn than i did as a teenager.

 

Maybe there should be a push for reduced sound levels in firearms for everyone's hearing protection.  There are mufflers for cars, shouldn't there be an similar device be produced for firearms without it falling into the "silencer" category.

 

Meanwhile, Lets start using some ear-plugs or other hearing protection in addition to wearing vision protection.  Wearing shooting glasses has protected my eyes more than once from a low thin branch while pushing through brush.  A scratched cornea is no fun.

NY is one of the very few states that just outright bans suppressors on firearms for civilians. It's for our own good. 

[Huntscreek]

Good read http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Recreational-Firearm-Noise-Exposure/

[Larry]

I use ear plugs on the range all the time but only when hunting with a handgun or from an enclosed blind.

[Borngeechee]

these things give you superman hearing and dampens the gun blast... awesome

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[wolc123]

I always use hearing protection on the range, even with a .22 rimfire.   My favorite wool hunting hat with the ear flaps down gives me at least a little hearing protection on most days while gun hunting with larger calibers.  They also keep my ears warm, kind of like killing two birds with one stone.   Unfortunately those flaps also block my hearing enough to make it tougher picking up a deer approaching in the cover, at close range.  I rely heavily on my ears and have killed more deer that I heard first than I saw first.  

 

My x-bow, coupled with newly arrived range finder, was hitting so good on the range today that I may even take that up north for ML season this year.   There are certainly no  noise issues with that "silent killer".  Cleanup is a lot easier than the ML also.  The only problem is the 50 yard effective range vs a bit over 100 with the ML.  I may take both, using the ML in the mornings, when it will be cold and the ears need to be covered anyhow, and the x-bow in the afternoons.