Hearing protection still hunting

[Platensek-po]

I was wondering what people do about hearing protection while still hunting in the woods. I generally don’t wear any while I’m doing this kind of hunting as I use my ears to locate animals almost as much as my eyes. Shots tend to be fast without much time to prepare. I’ve thought about using a plug in my right ear but still seems to bug my hearing. Curious to hear what other think/do about this.

[h3x0ctb1n]

I just got some electronic ear pro and am going to try wearing it while hunting, with the volume up. My hope is that the microphones aren't skewed more in one direction, although testing them out at home, it seems like they are.

[JohnVH]

I have a pair of quality electronic in ear pieces, they help alot. I have tinnitus bad from an antelope hunt 10 years ago, so I dont shoot unless Im wearing something..   

[Platensek-po]

Yeah I’m starting to develop tinnitus in my right ear so I need to do something! Do you guys feel you can hear as well or at least almost as well with the electronic ear pieces? Thank for the input and I’ll look at some of those earpieces.

[JohnVH]

Yeah I’m starting to develop tinnitus in my right ear so I need to do something! Do you guys feel you can hear as well or at least almost as well with the electronic ear pieces? Thank for the input and I’ll look at some of those earpieces.

Initially they are kind of weird, I dont think anything is as good as open ears for hearing what direction things are, but you can turn up the electronic ones to actually hear better if you want to.  Id rather not shoot something, than be def, Or have this stupid tinnitus!

[Stein]

I have electronic muffs and I can hear as good, if not better than with them off.  I don't notice not being able to hear in certain directions, I would invest in a quality pair if hearing well is important.  I wear them all day and after a bit you don't even notice you have them on.

[Magnum_Willys]

I have electronic muffs and I can hear as good, if not better than with them off.  I don't notice not being able to hear in certain directions, I would invest in a quality pair if hearing well is important.  I wear them all day and after a bit you don't even notice you have them on.

   They aren't good for detecting direction of sound like a bugle but at least you hear it !

[Bob33]

I've used variations of these while hunting antelope as I typically have time to insert them before shooting.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018340972?pid=458999

For still hunting the electronic muffs are a good way to go. You can hear as well or better and they protect your hearing. Walker Game Ears are another option.

Tinnitus is just the start. Hearing loss is permanent.

[Stein]

The other option would be to have muffs on your head but not your ear, I used to do this and still do if my kids are using the good pair.  You can slide them over your ear in under a second, way faster than plugs.

[Platensek-po]

Thanks for the ideas guys!! Prob too late for this season but I will be investing in something over this winter. Between screaming children, power equipment, and shooting im starting to worry about my hearing in the future. I like the idea of the electronic muffs and will try to hunt with the muffs on my head for the remainder of this season. I find that the my shooting window here on the wetside is generally very small and i tend to try and react very fast in order to maximize the time i have to get a shot opportunity. Thanks for the ideas!!!

[Caz]

The other option would be to have muffs on your head but not your ear, I used to do this and still do if my kids are using the good pair.  You can slide them over your ear in under a second, way faster than plugs.

Were you ever a dj? lol.

OP, I don't use ear pro while hunting (except for waterfowl and upland), because I've already shot up my ears, and tinnitus is an old friend. Ear pro screws up my ability to identify sounds and where it came from. However, when it's cold, I do what Stein mentioned here.

Ear muffs, just off the ear, a little brush zip tied to them to break up silhouette and look really awesome. if I have a chance, I slip at least one on if not both while getting ready to shoot.

[Taco280AI]

I use plugs like these. Fast and easy

https://www.zoro.com/honeywell-howard-leight-banded-ear-plugs-bell-27db-qb1hyg/i/G1497666/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=surfaces&utm_campaign=shopping%20feed&utm_content=free%20google%20shopping%20clicks&gclid=Cj0KCQjw59n8BRD2ARIsAAmgPmImRAqH2Xy1sSn-vCs2jRSM2G2j26FKvHH-uFkLhJfWRMSNquNkz9QaAtGZEALw_wcB

[10thmountainarcher]

I’ve been considering some of the electronic muffs. My hearing is pretty much shot thanks to the Ma Duece, no pun intended. I wear the electronic muffs at the range and they sure seem to help me hear things that otherwise I wouldn’t be able to hear. The Tinnitus is pretty severe in both ears so the quiet sounds and faint bugles are pretty much covered by the ringing

[Taco280AI]

I know all about ringing ears as well. Military, guns, helicopters.... it all adds up

[10thmountainarcher]

I know all about ringing ears as well. Military, guns, helicopters.... it all adds up

😂 

[Molon5labe]

I use a silencerco harvester. No more ringing ears and it makes my lightweight 30-06 feel like shooting a 223.

[Dark2Dark]

I use a silencerco harvester. No more ringing ears and it makes my lightweight 30-06 feel like shooting a 223.

Beat me to it. Thunderbeast Ultra 7. My 300 WM is a peach with it (despite being under 6 lbs) and sounds like a 22. Brakes and non-suppressed rifles are for cavemen. ;-)

[Wolfdog2314]

Start the process for a suppressor. Lots of coin to drop. But worth it.

[Pnwrider]

Suppressor for the win. Especially if you bring your kids with. Don’t want their ear drums getting the same abuse mine have over the years. Kids make a great excuse for upgrades. I have my wife convinced I need to order a thermal to go predator hunting with the kiddos right now😂

[wadu1]

I know all about ringing ears as well. Military, guns, helicopters.... it all adds up

😂 

No helicopters but military guns, had a 20mm Vulcan do a 60 round burst 4 feet over my head. Hearing loss and ringing it also drained my sinuses at the same time. I now use Howard Leight’s impact sports all the time while hunting. They are better than my hearing aids.

[h3x0ctb1n]

Sorry about the hearing loss wadu1, but glad to hear your Howard Leight's work better than hearing aids - I just bought a set of those same ones.

[Platensek-po]

I appreciate all the advice guys! A suppressor has been on my radar for a while now! I’m gunna weigh my options and see what’s gunna make the best Christmas present this year. Glad to hear, no pun intended, that you all still get after it even with the hearing loss. Thanks again!

[kselkhunter]

Agree with the other posters on the suppressor.  That's why they were invented for, helping prevent hearing loss. 

I have some Peltor electronic ear plugs that work great for while sitting in the duck blind, cutting firewood, target practice, anything stationary.  My problem is they work too well at picking up sounds, and get annoying listening to my clothing rustle or leaves crackling as I step on them while I'm walking.  Haven't figured out how to turn down the mic pickup level yet.  I keep them in my pocket in their charging case when I'm walking for still-hunting, and put them in when I stop for awhile to watch an area.  The downside is I wouldn't have time to put them in before a quick shot. 

A suppressor is a better option.

[Stein]

Ignorant question here - do suppressors lower the sound enough to safely shoot without ear protection?  My assumption was you still had to wear something, they lower it significantly, but not low enough to be safe without protection, at least for a centerfire rifle shooting supersonic.

[kselkhunter]

 Depending on suppressor, it reduces sound by 30-40dB.  Which is similar to the reduction you get with most hearing protection devices (again depending on the device).  When possible, wearing hearing protection even with a suppressor is recommended.

[Bob33]

Ignorant question here - do suppressors lower the sound enough to safely shoot without ear protection?  My assumption was you still had to wear something, they lower it significantly, but not low enough to be safe without protection, at least for a centerfire rifle shooting supersonic.

The estimates I've seen show the reduced sound levels at around 140 decibels.

[kselkhunter]

Ignorant question here - do suppressors lower the sound enough to safely shoot without ear protection?  My assumption was you still had to wear something, they lower it significantly, but not low enough to be safe without protection, at least for a centerfire rifle shooting supersonic.

Here's a link to a interesting test results of various suppressors.  With dB measurement results.
https://www.silencercentral.com/blog/we-tested-27-rifle-suppressors-heres-what-we-found/

[Stein]

So you need to be careful in which one you buy, almost half of them were still over 140 dB which is instant hearing loss.  The test rifle was about 170 unsupressed.  It was also a .308, so bigger bang sticks might be impossible to make hearing safe with existing technology.

The best was about 134 dB which is about a 36 dB reduction which is very good, almost identical to the ratings on my new dumbo ear muffs.

The worst was only 23 dB.

[Russ McDonald]

I use Walker Razor ear buds.https://www.walkersgameear.com/silencer/ Also military so naval ship noise, shooting, constant high fan noise from high power transmitters.  I shoot ar the range and they are awesome.  Wife also has a set.  Only time I shoot a gun is turkey hunting archery for deer and elk.  The only problem I have is calling.  The ear buds work so good they muffle my call so I can't tell how loud I am.  Bug deal when calling turkeys.  I can hear them gobbling and yelping like I have bionic ears.

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