Best hearing protection while hunting?

Don’t get me wrong I believe hearing protection for one shot or 1000 shots is important and that one shot can have an affect on hearing.
That said I’d love to know if anyone has seen any real world studies on the effective range and pickup that these electronic earmuffs have?
I’ve dabbled a bit in sound engineering and understand some basics of mics. I’d assume these microphones are probably some kind of omnidirectional mic which means they are supposed to pick up sound all around. But there could be dead spots. And being that I’ve seen a lot of these mics placed facing more forward on the headphone it leaves me to believe that there is even more of a dead spot behind you. Perhaps not a great feature in grizz country.
Omnidirectional mics have their advantage in that they pic up sound all around you but they also have the downfall that their range isn’t that great. So if a deer cracks a branch 40’ away it may pic it up but I highly doubt your going to be hearing a deer fart at 200 yards as some like to boast.
Now if they moved over to a shotgun style mic (doubtful) that really could increase the range that these mics could have. But it also reduces the direction of sound that these mics can pic up. Leaving an even bigger dead spot behind you.
I don’t doubt their validity in hearing conversations at the range and canceling the louder noises but I really question their real world hunting applications.
 
griffin86 said:
That’s auditory exclusion, you still get hearing damage even though your brain shuts off your hearing.
Click to expand...

my wife calls it ‘selective hearing’ i like your name for it better

i used to go about without hearing protection while hunting, always had it while at the range, thousands of rounds later, i have a hearing loss, now i don’t go out without hayward leight’s emuffs, wish i had a custom plugs but i can’t afford $
 
Last edited:
RidgeHunter said:
Don’t get me wrong I believe hearing protection for one shot or 1000 shots is important and that one shot can have an affect on hearing.
That said I’d love to know if anyone has seen any real world studies on the effective range and pickup that these electronic earmuffs have?
I’ve dabbled a bit in sound engineering and understand some basics of mics. I’d assume these microphones are probably some kind of omnidirectional mic which means they are supposed to pick up sound all around. But there could be dead spots. And being that I’ve seen a lot of these mics placed facing more forward on the headphone it leaves me to believe that there is even more of a dead spot behind you. Perhaps not a great feature in grizz country.
Omnidirectional mics have their advantage in that they pic up sound all around you but they also have the downfall that their range isn’t that great. So if a deer cracks a branch 40’ away it may pic it up but I highly doubt your going to be hearing a deer fart at 200 yards as some like to boast.
Now if they moved over to a shotgun style mic (doubtful) that really could increase the range that these mics could have. But it also reduces the direction of sound that these mics can pic up. Leaving an even bigger dead spot behind you.
I don’t doubt their validity in hearing conversations at the range and canceling the louder noises but I really question their real world hunting applications.
Click to expand...

You’re overthinking it, they’re not meant to hear a deer fart at 200y. They’re meant to keep you from damaging your eardrums when shooting, the fact that you can hear animal movement when closer in is just a bonus. You can honestly hear quite far, I’ve been sitting on the ground in the bush and had multiple ravens at different ranges talking back and foreth and could easily hear them. I’ve heard deer sneaking through the bush out at 40-50yds on a couple occasions last year.
 
Interesting Post....
I am committed to ear protection when sighting in any firearm and or shooting for sport at a range.
I wear muffs when running the chainsaws or two stroke weed wackers....of course.
Then again my Carver TFM-45 is rated at 285 watts. and I don't pass out muffs when things get carried away....

Just like I wear sunglasses in bright weather conditions, and they are indeed quality glasses, always have always will.
Yet my eyesight is failing faster than my hearing.

And when hunting alone, bunkered in a (big game) blind or hide - I WANT to hear every trickle of sound!
More often than not the sounds are so very entertaining when you spend countless hours in waiting...wonderful experience...
And when I am fortunate to squeeze off at a nice buck I assure you that when that buck tumbles, the adrenaline seems to have protected my ears for the last 35 years of big game hunting!! The thrumming of my heart and excitement have never had me worried about that one unprotected shot emanated from a 26" barrel...!!

YMMV...

;)
 
We are each very different. i have worked in a shop with lots of noise for much of my life, have hunted without ear protection for decades, and thus far have only light tinnitus. my wife, who has also worked in noisy, but within reason environments, is gradually losing her hearing. She hunts without hearing protection too, but has only done so for about the last twenty years, and has never duck hunted.
What i'm saying here is that hearing protection is probably more important for some, than for others. How do you know? You don't!
Muffs are annoying to me, and I've never found a set of plugs that would stay put for me. yes, even the foam ones fall out.
I think the "wolf ears" type would be the type I would use, if I was to use them.
side benefit, your ears would be warm, even on the coldest of days.
I still find them too annoying to wear hunting, bad enough at the range. Growing up, we didn't even know they existed.
 
John Y Cannuck said:
We are each very different. i have worked in a shop with lots of noise for much of my life, have hunted without ear protection for decades, and thus far have only light tinnitus. my wife, who has also worked in noisy, but within reason environments, is gradually losing her hearing. She hunts without hearing protection too, but has only done so for about the last twenty years, and has never duck hunted.
What i'm saying here is that hearing protection is probably more important for some, than for others. How do you know? You don't!
Muffs are annoying to me, and I've never found a set of plugs that would stay put for me. yes, even the foam ones fall out.
I think the "wolf ears" type would be the type I would use, if I was to use them.
side benefit, your ears would be warm, even on the coldest of days.
I still find them too annoying to wear hunting, bad enough at the range. Growing up, we didn't even know they existed.
Click to expand...

I have a similar experience hunting. We never used any hearing protection as kids.

I have some hearing loss and tinnitus but that's from blast damage.. just a little work relate incident with things that go boom, its not bad enough to be pension worthy at this time.

range time I use plugs or muffs but nothing hunting. For the 2-5 rounds fired over a few weeks I'm not that concerned.

oh and none of my rifles are ported or braked. the 300WM and 325WSM are manageable as is.
 
Butcherbill said:
You’re overthinking it, they’re not meant to hear a deer fart at 200y. They’re meant to keep you from damaging your eardrums when shooting, the fact that you can hear animal movement when closer in is just a bonus. You can honestly hear quite far, I’ve been sitting on the ground in the bush and had multiple ravens at different ranges talking back and foreth and could easily hear them. I’ve heard deer sneaking through the bush out at 40-50yds on a couple occasions last year.
Click to expand...

My experience is in line with yours on this. With mine I can hear plenty around me from a fair distance, regardless of the direction - and since they have 2 mics (stereo) I can easily tell what direction the sounds are coming from.

I love the fact that me and another person can each wear a pair and whisper as quietly as possible and be able to hear each other clear as a bell, from tens of meters away.
 
griffin86 said:
That’s auditory exclusion, you still get hearing damage even though your brain shuts off your hearing.
Click to expand...

I hear you (excuse the pun), I wonder if a persons hearing can be more robust than others?, seriously, ive fired my 20inch barreled 375H&H while hunting too many times to remember and have not had any ill effects to my hearing (and yes ive had it tested)......just wondering....

I've even had an over eager professional guide fire his 416 Rigby a few feet from me, and although I suffered temporary hearing loss in my one ear, my hearing recovered within a few days

or maybe my hearing will get worse with age..

if out target shooting, different story......never leave home without my earmuffs..
 
I've had a substantial amount of hearing loss over the years. I would say 60/40 between work and shooting. This was before hearing protection mandatory in them areas. Now I can hear my wife in conversation but in a room full of people I can't hear anything. Just use something.
 
I have hearing aids due to loss, partly I’m sure from firearm use. They will cut out on gun blasts so if I’m hunting big game or upland I just wear them as normal. Hunting waterfowl with lots of shooting I wear electronic muffs.
 
I have a bit of hearing loss from power tools and loud concerts. Therefore, I am concerned about further hearing loss.

My solution for hunting is a set of those ear plugs on a rope. They weigh practically nothing (9 grams), and just sit around my neck all day. If I get into a position where I have to make a quick shot, I wont bother with them, but if I have some time to take the shot I'll put them in.

I want to get some electronic earmuffs and give 'em a try, but they wouldn't fit over my full brim leather hat anyways so I'm not sure how much I'd actually use them.
 
coleman1495 said:
I used the Howard Leight electronic muffs for a few years. They work pretty good. I have Walker Razer muffs now and definitely prefer them. Less noise from wind with the Walkers.
Click to expand...
Get 'em from Costco with a good return policy if you don't like them: https://www.costco.ca/Walker%e2%80%99s-Razor-Series-Adult-Ear-Muff.product.100307212.html But as some have said a good brand, money no object is https://www.amazon.ca/MSA-Safety-10149445-Supreme-Neckband/dp/B016KF2CNG/ref=asc_df_B016KF2CNG/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292993973230&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7689612029147025649&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001069&hvtargid=pla-525433785518&psc=1 Good luck with your search, you don't want to end up tinnitus .
 
It's hunting not a shooting range, no need for hear protection during hunting unless you're shooting from inside a solid wall blind. It's only one shot and the adrenaline rush and shakes will over shadow the temporary ringing in the ears.

My hearing is just as good as it was last year after my bear and deer harvest, 12" barrel 44 mag and a 18" barrel 45/70.
 
The ROC said:
It's hunting not a shooting range, no need for hear protection during hunting unless you're shooting from inside a solid wall blind. It's only one shot and the adrenaline rush and shakes will over shadow the temporary ringing in the ears.

My hearing is just as good as it was last year after my bear and deer harvest, 12" barrel 44 mag and a 18" barrel 45/70.
Click to expand...

Is it though? How do you know that? Standard hearing tests are very subjective. The last one I did I scored HORRIBLE on, but thats 'cause I was falling asleep in the dark booth... lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom