Do you use protection?

moellermd

moellermd

Super Moderator
Hearing Protection that is. I posted this question on the "other" forum but do not remember what the consensus was. From what I have heard other places is that most earplug style devices collect a lot of wind noise and other clutter from walking through grass. Making them not the greatest for hunters who are walking a lot. Anyone had luck with any particular brand?
 
MoellerMD,

I use the Browning Peltor and love them. I use for construction or any situation that requires hearing protection. The peltors are comfortable and amplify anything under 70db and clip/cut/block anything over 70db.

I am even thinking about using them in the deer stand to help pickup sneaky deer. $99 was what I paid I think. I think they are the sporttacs or something like that.
 
Great question. I've been thinking of acquiring one or two Walker's Game Ear. I'd wondered about the wind issue if anybody has any experience.
 
Many moons ago I shot tens of thousands of shells at targets w/o hearing protection. That cost me about 25% of my hearing. My dog lost 75% of his. My wife always used hearing protection and has no hearing loss. I now always use hearing protection for target shooting, but I don't use it when hunting. My theory, FWIW, is that the relative small number of shells fired while hunting isn't enough to damage your hearing, and I want to be able to hear everything in the field. I also hate ear-muffs, especially when the weather is warm.

A qualified audiologist may have a different opinion.
 
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I have regular hearing aids, that I wear all the time. I DO NOT take them out for hunting. I like to hear what is happening around me. So if one breaks from the bangs so be it. I'll get it fixed. But it has not happened yet. Not really that many bangs hunting......Bob
 
I use hearing protection while I shoot clays. When I'm hunting I feel that I have a better feel for everything going on around me without protection. There are so many things going on when you have multiple guys hunting together.
 
Not while hunting. I want to take in all the sounds while on the hunt.

On the other hand I hunt alone, those of you that have hunters on either side should have protection.
I think it's the side blasts that are the more damaging.
 
Side blasts, those are the worst. Have damaged my hunting by a partners carelessness.

Wear when practicing but not when hunting. Use a pair of Winchester's and work fine.
 
No way! I usually wear them when I'm target practicing, but hearing everything while hunting (not just birds flushing) is just as important to my memory as the sights and smells experienced each outing. I live for bird hunting and I'm willing to make a few sacrifices to enjoy it in "surround sound".
 
I always wondered how easy these small tan 1/2" pieces of plastic are to find in the tall tan grass? Or do they not fall out as easy as they look like they would?
 
I do enough hunting that I need protection in the field. Originally used walker ear muffs. They worked fine, only issue was use during warm weather. I went to in the ear hearing protection last year and they are very nice. You don't sacrifice anything.
 
pheasantaddict

What type of in the ear product do you use? Any problem with wind and walking noise?
 
They were ESP advertised in PF mag. No perceived problems with wind or walking noise. I bought two but you could probably get by with one and put a cheap foam protection in other ear. Its better than losing your hearing, mine is bad enough.
 
Esp

I also use the analog in-ear protection from ESP when hunting. I cannot shoot shotgun with muffs due to interference with the comb of the stock. The analog ESP's do not have a problem with wind noise and the sound quality is good. You still get all the sound directional capability of having no protection. The digital ESP's would be even better but the price for the digital is very high. The analog ESP's are not cheap, either, at $800 for a pair. I got mine in orange color to make them easier to find if I dropped one. Once in, they are never going to fall out. My hearing is already bad enough and I thought I better do something before it's too late. You need to go to a hearing professional to get custom ear molds made, then ear molds are sent to ESP and your custom-fit protection mailed to you. For clay shooting I still wear foam plugs because nothing other than muffs provides better noise reduction than good foam plugs.
 
Sounds like a guy needs to spend some bucks to get a pair that works. From what I have read about Walker Game ears they do not work well in the wind.
 
A shotgun blast has a db rating of around 150 for each shot that is fired. Compared to other loud noises this is tremendous believe it or not. I have had tinnitus issues from a lifetime of shooting without any protection. Last year I came across Westone products from my audiologist and they use a custom made ear mold protection for around $90-135 depending on the type desired. I purchased the type that attenuates by the use of a tiny valve when a shot is fired and is normally open so you can hear most conversations. Works pretty well and the fit is good, even keeps my ears warmer I noticed.
 
At the moment I wear muffs for shooting clays, and nothing while hunting. My hearing is good so far (I have it tested yearly for work). Still, it would be silly of me to wait until there is irrepairable damage before protecting myself!
I can't imagine a scenario where I would wear them upland hunting, if for no other erason that I don't shoot much in a day, and I am VERY rarely near another hunter when they fire.

Waterfowl hunting I shoot a lot more often. However, unlike some guys, I rarely hunt in close quarters with other gunners (like in a boat or small blind). NOrmally we are about 20 yards apart. Last year I did my first hunts in a boat, and after the first one, I wore my earmuffs the second time. I found them really annoying at first, until I learned to keep one up high over my ear and only drop it down when we started working some birds. This helped for conversation. Still, I was not a big fan. Still, my ears were not ringing at the end of the day! If I do much more than a few of these hunts a year I will probably revisit this thread and think about getting somethign that allows other noises to come through but shuts down a shotgun blast. I'd probably go with an ear-muff style rather than something inside my ear (it would have to be custom molded for me otherwise, because ear-phones NEVER stay in my ears - must be an unusual shape or something.
-Croc
 
I didn't realize there were so many options for hearing protection. It seems an amazing technology is available that I should be considering. I'd rather go deaf than not be able to hear a rooster's cackle and his wings beating. It is time to research some of these expensive options I suppose. Anything out there that I can hear what is going on with for less than $800?

Birdbuster,

Your post left me with the impression that I wouldn't be able to hear some of the more subtle sounds of the outdoors. Is this a mis-understanding or can you hear birds chirping, wings beating, roosters cackling, etc.?
 
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