The Liberal Gun Club Forum

Does anybody wear ear protection while hunting? Hearing loss is cumulative, meaning any damage that might not seem significant at one particular point in time can build up if it's repeated. I've got some damage to my ears, especially my left ear, from various things.

I'm conflicted on this. When I bird hunt (or big game hunt, for that matter), it seems like I have enough adrenaline or whatever in my system that when I take a shot, I never hear ringing in my ears afterwards. However, if I'm just shooting clays or sighting in, if I ever take even one shot with something bigger than a .22 lr without ear protection, my ears will be ringing for at least 24 hours.

Does hearing loss happen even if you don't notice it, such as when I've got the adrenaline flowing and I don't notice any ringing? One of my best hunting senses is my hearing, apart from eyesight (though hearing might even be the best initial alert in the cases of hearing grouse or quail or chukars flushing).

Nope. Not me. I need to be able to hear any little sound that may tip me off that something is coming. Also, sitting out in the woods, not making a sound is a pretty awesome experience. One sees and hears all kinds of things that only sitting still and silent allows. If I were to fill all the permits I generally get in a year, and assuming each one only took 1 shot (my goal), I've exposed myself to 4 unprotected gunshots. I feel that's a pretty good trade-off.

Huh?

If you keep exposing yourself to unprotected gunshots, the silence of the woods will get even more profound. Lee Sonic ear type plugs allow you to hear everything going on, but afford some protection when you shoot.

"Huh?..What did you say???"( just kiddin'.) Maybe I'll look into these. I ran a chainsaw for 20+ years, 5 days/wk. I wore "Ears" nearly all the time, and my hearing is no worse than the average person of my advancing age (60+). I still think I could expose myself to quite a few blasts before my hearing would suffer. I don't shoot a lot like some of you guys; don't go to a range, don't target shoot. Before a season starts I'll fire off a couple/few rounds just to remind myself how that particular gun aims. I do wear ear protection for that. I'm from an older generation that didn't have to concern ourselves w/ "protection".......

Well, I'm 33 and already have hearing loss from shooting and running chainsaws and chippers. You're lucky.

Most of the time I wore ear protection, but maybe it wasn't enough. While climbing 100 feet or more up in a tree, you need to be in voice contact with your ground guys. I always tried to put in my plugs (these, http://www.galeton.com/quiet-band-ear-p ... 0-product/, or something similar) when I started up a saw. Stihl 200t saws are loud! As are just about any chainsaws. And 12 gauges.

I've only taken one shot while hunting with a 30-06 and my ears were humming for a while, but if I were wearing earplugs I doubt I would have heard the deer so I probably won't in the future. However, at 34 and with a mild case of tinnitus from playing music live without ear protection I'm probably not someone to take advice from!

These "sound" good. I couldn't find them with a google search. Any other suggestions of ear protection that also let you hear?

I just did the same search and found equivalent ear plugs. Because they work on a valve principle they would not help with the constant sound of a chain saw, for instance. Mine date back to the 1960s and are still functional. These appear to work the same way: http://www.earplugstore.com/sonicvalveii.html

I don't hunt anymore, but my electronic muffs (not the most expensive) actually amplify normal sound and only cut out sound above a certain level. When I tested them in the house, it is amazing how the ticking clock stands out when you normally don't notice it.

Hey! a fellow arborist!! I don't run into many of those. I ran a Stihl .020 and did my share of feeding the chipper. I use a 16 ga. - maybe that's the difference!!

I haven't done it full time for a few years now but I might get back into it in Vermont. A friend that I used to work with started a forestry/tree care business out there a few years ago. I cut my teeth in Oregon, so I figure I can handle anything Vermont could throw at me. My ISA cert expired, so I'll want to renew that... I ran an 020 also until my boss spent the money on some 200s! Nice saws.

We got and use these. Not for hunting but others do. There are reviews from hunters.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001T7QJ9O

Howard Leight R-01526 Impact Sport Electronic Earmuff

We use those too. For really loud reports, we use them in conjunction with plugs. I like them very much. They are comfortable and the stereo amplification is good. The do not work well with the current stock on my 10/22 target rifle but I generally use subsonic ammo in that so the cheap earplugs are fine.

Depending on what you are hunting with, I would think they would be a good choice.

Next year I should be hunting with a suppressed 7.62x40 WR rifle.

http://www.basspro.com/Hunting-Hunting- ... l#Category
http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/browse/h ... t104734980

Most of the "game ears" reduce the dBs by 20-25. It's not really enough, but, since it's logarithmic, every reduction of 10 dBs is a reduction of half of the noise level.

I use the same set that GnG posted.

I just ordered these.

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/p ... rchID=4006

They may not be the best, but they have good reviews. And they're cheap. Gander has free shipping.

I stung my ears again this morning on the wigeon. I'm taking straight-up earplugs out with me tomorrow morning. I'm basically sitting on some decoys, so I think I can quick-draw some earplugs at least part way into my ears before I shoot. Tinnitus sucks.

It doesn't take a lot of noise to cause problems. After the Army I was in an National Guard tank unit. Even though I was well behind the line (a medic) during tank firing range sessions, I still had a measurable hearing loss at certain frequencies. I've seen it in other tanker's hearing profiles, too.
I dunno how I avoided it during the time overseas (M16 fire).

Comparing pre and post hearing profiles after being exposed to the M1's 105mm main gun blast cannon shows I can't hear for shit.
I use ear muffs anytime I shoot.

Yes, I wear hearing protection while hunting. I use HearDefenders-DF (http://www.earinc.com/p1-dual-filtered.php). I was out in the woods yesterday and did a comparison of sounds with the plugs in and out. The sound was a bit different with them in, but I could hear as clearly. I've always had good hearing and don't want to mess it up.

One of my shooting buddies has a pair. It's strange to have the BOOM suppressed but be able to hear the pill rattling like an artillery shell as it goes downrange.