Post by: ljsommer on May 15, 2018, 09:17:48 AM
New hunter here. When using a firearm (modern or muzzle) how do you address the concern of discharging a firearm and its impact on hearing? I can't imagine using hearing protection while hunting due to the need to listen and be aware of your surroundings, but a single gunshot can be pretty damaging, let alone decades of gunshots from hunting.
Thoughts? Input?
Post by: 92xj on May 15, 2018, 09:22:11 AM
Post by: Pegasus on May 15, 2018, 09:30:07 AM
Post by: h20hunter on May 15, 2018, 09:31:37 AM
Post by: elkaholic123 on May 15, 2018, 09:37:52 AM
Post by: vandeman17 on May 15, 2018, 09:39:47 AM
I have been hunting for 43 years and have never wore hearing protection in the field and my hearing while not perfect is very good, I also have a muzzle brake on my rifles. Different story at the range!I think you would be fine UNLESS you are a terrible shot and have to shoot a whole box of bullets... :chuckle: Only sissy's wear protection in the field :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
This is me for big game hunting, only wear protection at the range. I have started wearing muffs while waterfowl hunting though
Post by: h20hunter on May 15, 2018, 09:41:40 AM
Post by: Bob33 on May 15, 2018, 09:47:54 AM
There are several options for protecting your hearing while hunting. I generally use the plugs on a little string. I carry them around my neck and put them in just before shooting if I'm mobile. In a blind or stationary, the amplified ear muffs work great. You can also get something like Walkers Game Ears which amplify and also shut off when a gun is fired.
Post by: boneaddict on May 15, 2018, 09:49:22 AM
dont forget, campfire smoke is harmful to you as well. :fire.: Better mask up
Post by: ljsommer on May 15, 2018, 09:52:11 AM
Pain I don't mind, permanent damage to my senses is not ok.
Post by: Fl0und3rz on May 15, 2018, 09:52:59 AM
When using a firearm (modern or muzzle) how do you address the concern of discharging a firearm and its impact on hearing?
I try to not find game animals that are covered by my tags. Otherwise, I don't worry about the occasional one or two shots, unprotected.
Post by: rasbo on May 15, 2018, 10:00:35 AM
Post by: boneaddict on May 15, 2018, 10:02:23 AM
You know what got me thinking about this? I am 34 and started hearing a slight tearing sound anytime I'd be near a loud noise. I went in for a hearing test (if you haven't done this, I recommend it) and it is quite thorough. I was shown hard data on my current hearing loss, and when you have a doctor show you with hard data that you've already sustained permanent hearing loss, and she tells you that even one single unmitigated gunshot will cause even more permanent hearing loss, it really changes your outlook.I can imagine how that would get your attention.
Pain I don't mind, permanent damage to my senses is not ok.
Post by: fowl smacker on May 15, 2018, 10:05:52 AM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 15, 2018, 10:20:40 AM
Post by: idaho guy on May 15, 2018, 10:23:24 AM
Post by: no.cen.wa on May 15, 2018, 12:17:16 PM
But I have to say I often hear an animal before I see it, hunt in pretty dense forest areas. Maybe I'll try to have ear protection handy, my hunting partner has lost a lot of his hearing, I'm sure from his military days in Vietnam, "and I thank him and all others for their service" . We should all wear ear protection when we can I guess.
John G
Post by: KFhunter on May 15, 2018, 12:21:33 PM
If you're worried about it I'd suggest the inserts to help amplify noise a little but still deaden a shot and you don't need to stop to put them on.
If you archery, the muffs don't work unfortunately. I still use them for archery until I get the buds, but instead of taking the time to put ears on I have to have time to take the ears off :chuckle:
I'll be switching to ear buds like these that'll stay in the whole duration of the hunt.
(https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcQsuYJ9kZH0L_j_dPA51dTODfgCZiZxMgTQEwbBb-P2WFYf7jocUONyp3klFcWbGO0y6hDDcgDr8lNUw-5qCy5awZ5Ta6Qf11k98V1tGLJTPGqcoPUtVYxZtQ&usqp=CAY)
Post by: jpharcher on May 15, 2018, 12:50:17 PM
Post by: 2MANY on May 15, 2018, 03:07:57 PM
My sport ears muffle the sound of my own elk bugle and make it difficult to understand the actual sounds I'm making.
Post by: vandeman17 on May 15, 2018, 03:27:11 PM
Warning:
My sport ears muffle the sound of my own elk bugle and make it difficult to understand the actual sounds I'm making.
Wind also wreaks havoc on my muffs
Post by: JWEBB on May 15, 2018, 10:57:13 PM
Post by: Molon5labe on May 17, 2018, 05:26:47 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on May 17, 2018, 06:33:10 AM
Walkers game ears all the way! They don’t muffle the shot as well as ear plugs but they enhance sounds and when shooting, they considerably reduce the noise. Even though I recommend these, I still don’t have them in all the time when I’m shooting. I have just never gotten comfortable with anything in my ears while hunting. You think I would have learned my lesson 4 years ago when one shot from my 300 win mag has given me hearing problems and tinnitus in my left ear.If it was to shoot that bull in your avatar it was worth it!! Hell, I'd cut off a toe for that beast!
Post by: JohnVH on May 17, 2018, 10:30:25 AM
Post by: AL WORRELLS KID on May 17, 2018, 10:34:29 AM
Doug
Post by: Old Man Yager on May 17, 2018, 10:56:14 AM
Post by: JWEBB on May 17, 2018, 08:52:57 PM
Walkers game ears all the way! They don’t muffle the shot as well as ear plugs but they enhance sounds and when shooting, they considerably reduce the noise. Even though I recommend these, I still don’t have them in all the time when I’m shooting. I have just never gotten comfortable with anything in my ears while hunting. You think I would have learned my lesson 4 years ago when one shot from my 300 win mag has given me hearing problems and tinnitus in my left ear.If it was to shoot that bull in your avatar it was worth it!! Hell, I'd cut off a toe for that beast!
Yeah I wouldn’t have been too upset if that was the case. It was a 5 point whitetail and I missed :chuckle:
Post by: biggfish on May 18, 2018, 09:09:10 AM
Sent from my LG-US701 using Tapatalk
Post by: Jonathan_S on May 18, 2018, 01:06:19 PM
Last fall I planned to plug my ears while somebody else was shooting a moose with a braked 280. Never did because I'd rather watch through binos :chuckle: After several shots like that, I had tinnitus off and on for a few months.
When I hunt with or around a braked rifle, I suppose I'll probably carry earpro from now on but not otherwise.
Post by: dscubame on May 18, 2018, 01:34:56 PM
You guys crack me up. Same guys that use latex to gut their deer Id imagine. LOL
dont forget, campfire smoke is harmful to you as well. :fire.: Better mask up
Good chuckle :tup: Put me on the side of the fence with no ear protection while hunting. Range and target shooting absolutely.
46 years old. Couple dozen big games animals to my record without protection starting with 30-06, 7mm, and many with the 30-378. No issues thus far. I imagine the AC/DC concerts caused more damage.
Post by: ljsommer on May 18, 2018, 03:30:04 PM
Post by: Bullkllr on May 18, 2018, 04:14:13 PM
I have been hunting for 43 years and have never wore hearing protection in the field and my hearing while not perfect is very good, I also have a muzzle brake on my rifles. Different story at the range!I think you would be fine UNLESS you are a terrible shot and have to shoot a whole box of bullets... :chuckle: Only sissy's wear protection in the field :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
This is me for big game hunting, only wear protection at the range. I have started wearing muffs while waterfowl hunting though
:yeah: Lots of heavy duck/goose loads week after week really started to get to me. Had to start doing something so muffs were the answer. A rifle shot a couple times a year does not seem to affect whatever hearing I have left.
Post by: Rainier10 on May 18, 2018, 04:58:12 PM
Got myself a really nice pair of hearing aids when I turned 45. Man I wish I would have taken better care of my ears when I was younger. Left ear is almost deaf to certain tones, classic symptom firearm damage for a right handed shooter.
Protect your ears, when you get older you will still be able to hear them call you a sissy but that is better than not being able to hear them tell you what a tough guy you were before you lost your hearing.
Post by: bearpaw on May 18, 2018, 05:14:05 PM
:hello:
Got myself a really nice pair of hearing aids when I turned 45. Man I wish I would have taken better care of my ears when I was younger. Left ear is almost deaf to certain tones, classic symptom firearm damage for a right handed shooter.
Protect your ears, when you get older you will still be able to hear them call you a sissy but that is better than not being able to hear them tell you what a tough guy you were before you lost your hearing.
:yeah: Sadly I'm in the same boat with my hearing, I wished I had been careful.
Post by: biggfish on May 18, 2018, 07:59:47 PM
Good conversation so far, it sounds like some of us are blessed with more resilient hearing than others. I picked up some plugs with a neck cord to hang when not in use, as well as Caldwell E-Max Low Profile Electronic 20-23 which are pretty incredible after some testing in the woods.How you liking the caldwell I bought a pair but can't get a good cheek weld with an ar.
Sent from my LG-US701 using Tapatalk
Post by: Pegasus on May 19, 2018, 10:06:52 AM
Post by: PolarBear on May 19, 2018, 10:17:37 AM
You guys crack me up. Same guys that use latex to gut their deer Id imagine. LOL:yeah: :chuckle: :chuckle:
dont forget, campfire smoke is harmful to you as well. :fire.: Better mask up
The same guys who wear shoulder length orange gloves. I can't tell if they are gutting an animal or doing a palpation test on it. :chuckle:
I have hearing damage from years of shooting competitively and playing my guitar at 11. I only use hearing protection at the range but not while hunting. I did lose my hearing for about 3 days after shooting a buck with my B.A.R. .300 win mag with the B.O.S.S. muzzle break in a box canyon. That sucked. I wear ear plugs all day at work and when I sleep but not in the field.
Post by: BigGoonTuna on May 19, 2018, 07:46:06 PM
Post by: TriggerMike on May 20, 2018, 10:43:07 AM
I use walker game ears, but mostly because I already have hearing loss. I can't hear a grouse beating its wings, or a buck snort, or a cat stalking me. I have a hard time with elk bugles far away, and forget about soft cow calls. My buddies hear them, stop and put their hand up in the classic "I hear something" gesture; I about pop a blood vessel straining to hear what they're hearing and I cannot.
If you're worried about it I'd suggest the inserts to help amplify noise a little but still deaden a shot and you don't need to stop to put them on.
If you archery, the muffs don't work unfortunately. I still use them for archery until I get the buds, but instead of taking the time to put ears on I have to have time to take the ears off :chuckle:
I'll be switching to ear buds like these that'll stay in the whole duration of the hunt.
(https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcQsuYJ9kZH0L_j_dPA51dTODfgCZiZxMgTQEwbBb-P2WFYf7jocUONyp3klFcWbGO0y6hDDcgDr8lNUw-5qCy5awZ5Ta6Qf11k98V1tGLJTPGqcoPUtVYxZtQ&usqp=CAY)
I bought the ear pro pictured here a few months ago and used them while turkey hunting. They worked great. I'l be using them this Fall for sure.
Post by: bearpaw on May 20, 2018, 02:39:38 PM
I use walker game ears, but mostly because I already have hearing loss. I can't hear a grouse beating its wings, or a buck snort, or a cat stalking me. I have a hard time with elk bugles far away, and forget about soft cow calls. My buddies hear them, stop and put their hand up in the classic "I hear something" gesture; I about pop a blood vessel straining to hear what they're hearing and I cannot.
If you're worried about it I'd suggest the inserts to help amplify noise a little but still deaden a shot and you don't need to stop to put them on.
If you archery, the muffs don't work unfortunately. I still use them for archery until I get the buds, but instead of taking the time to put ears on I have to have time to take the ears off :chuckle:
I'll be switching to ear buds like these that'll stay in the whole duration of the hunt.
(https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcQsuYJ9kZH0L_j_dPA51dTODfgCZiZxMgTQEwbBb-P2WFYf7jocUONyp3klFcWbGO0y6hDDcgDr8lNUw-5qCy5awZ5Ta6Qf11k98V1tGLJTPGqcoPUtVYxZtQ&usqp=CAY)
I bought the ear pro pictured here a few months ago and used them while turkey hunting. They worked great. I'l be using them this Fall for sure.
Were you able to hear what direction noises were coming from?
Post by: RadSav on May 20, 2018, 03:18:11 PM
Were you able to hear what direction noises were coming from?
I have the stereo head set I use for turkey. I can tell direction much better with those than I can without them. If I ever draw a good bull tag in this state I'll probably use them for that as well.
Only problem with the headset is I can not shoot gun or bow with them on. They are cancelling though so I do use them when shooting the pistola.
Real cool part of the design is you can amplify the sound you are looking for. Tune out the water sound or wind sounds and turn up turkey gobble sound. Takes a bit of getting used to like about anything else. But for directionally challenged guy like me...it's pretty sweet!
Post by: KFhunter on May 20, 2018, 05:19:02 PM
I got busted by some bears today checking a camera and if it wasn't for my wife that went with me I wouldn't have heard them crashing out, my wife can hear feather land on carpet, I think she hears too much :chuckle:
Post by: heronblu on May 20, 2018, 07:48:54 PM
Post by: Jonathan_S on May 21, 2018, 10:05:38 PM
Post by: KFhunter on May 21, 2018, 10:12:02 PM
It's first time I've had equal sound in both ears while listening to music :tup:
Now I'm thinking more about bone conducting hearing aids.
Post by: mulehunter on May 21, 2018, 10:32:23 PM
No need ear protection for me, at least I got a lot of big games by myself. :dunno: :chuckle:
I usually put ear plug on my daughter before she pull trigger.
Post by: Jonathan_S on May 22, 2018, 06:03:38 AM