Hunting hearing protection

I never thought about it much when I was hunting, the one shot here and there I never wore ear pro, and you are so excited when you see and shoot an animal you never really notice the gun shot. But it's still loud and damage happens you just don't realize. I have been super anal about ear pro at the range for years now though and always double up, and any concerts that I have gone to lately I have worn foamies(concerts actually sound better takes out a lot of distortion and when you come home and go to sleep your ears aren't ringing highly recommend).

Been much more conscious of ear pro lately while hunting, past season I was grouse hunting and shot 3 times in a short period of time and it bothered me. I decided right then that anytime I was hunting I was going to wear ear pro. Sat in a blind all deer season with some howard leights electronic ones on, it amplifies a lot of sound so you can definitely hear more however I found them not to be the most comfortable after a few hours. My ears thanked me though when I took a shot at a deer and had to take a second finishing shot.

I recently bought a pair of Peltor Spot Tactical 100 (TAC100) after reading some reviews, snagged them on amazon for $80, haven't used them in the field yet but trying them on they are light years more comfortable on the head and ears than the howard leight sports. This will most likely be my ear pro of choice now on for all hunting.

I was originally looking into the TEP-100's which are electronic ear buds but they are pricey and I think it would be a PIA to charge them every day where as a pair of muffs are fairly cheap have long battery life and you can swap out AAA batteries fairly easy.

Cheers,
 
Thinking ima try either howard light impact sport or walkers razor. Any comments on which would be better for hunting? Im using a magpul butstock on a mdt chassis so short and thin cups would be best
 
I have had some of my worst ringing in the ears from single rifle shots.

I always carry foam plugs and will not shoot at anything without foamies in each ear.

I have had deer get away because of this, but this persistent ringing in my left ear right now over a month since I last shot a gun reminds me I cannot afford to make it worse.
 
brybenn said:
Thinking ima try either howard light impact sport or walkers razor. Any comments on which would be better for hunting? Im using a magpul butstock on a mdt chassis so short and thin cups would be best
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I can’t comment on the Walkers but the Leights are really low profile and don’t interfere with a cheek weld on anything I shoot, they do benefit from upgraded gel pads from a US company called Noisefighters. With the new gel pads I can wear them all day with no discomfort, around the 3-4 hr mark I was getting sore from the pressure of the stock pads. They are a game changer and worth every penny, the cut out at the top gives you clearance for eye pro arms without breaking pad seal on your head.
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mark222 said:
The problem I find with electronic protection is that you may hear the sound, but you can't tell where it's coming from. Thats a deal breaker for me in the bush.
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Depends on the model. Earlier I said I was using Walker game ears, I was wrong. The units we use are Walker's Alpha 360, so 2 mics and 2 speakers per ear piece and independent volume controls, in my case my hearing is greatly improved and even helps cancel out some of the tinnitus on some days. My boys grab for them automatically when we go hunting as do I. I want them to keep their hearing and hang onto what's left of mine. They go on sale at Basspro from time to time for about $65, they are less bulky than the Leitz I use for work. I still use plugs as well as these muffs at the range.
 
savagefan said:
Depends on the model. Earlier I said I was using Walker game ears, I was wrong. The units we use are Walker's Alpha 360, so 2 mics and 2 speakers per ear piece and independent volume controls, in my case my hearing is greatly improved and even helps cancel out some of the tinnitus on some days. My boys grab for them automatically when we go hunting as do I. I want them to keep their hearing and hang onto what's left of mine. They go on sale at Basspro from time to time for about $65, they are less bulky than the Leitz I use for work. I still use plugs as well as these muffs at the range.
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I read alot of complaints about white noise. Have you had any issues with that?
 
There is some hiss which I think helps mask the tinnitus. I have a pair of fairly pricey power muffs for work, forget the brand which are useless to me as they seem to amplify ambient noises even when switched off. If there is a quadrophonic set out there that is slim fit and has better and clearer sound attenuation, I'm all ears.
 
Butcherbill said:
I use Howard Leights with a replacement gel pad when hunting or shooting in general, they’ve been great for the last 2-3 years I’ve owned them. I bought a 2 pack on amazon for around $79 so the wife can use a set or as a backup, I’m still on the same set of batteries in them. I dropped one set in the Shushwap river in the shallows two seasons ago getting into the boat, they totally submerged. I shook them off and they kept right on working, no issues in the rain this hunting season either. I’ve been very happy with them, with the upgraded gel pads I can wear them all day without any discomfort. When you’re still hunting you can turn up the ambient volume and hear a mouse fart.
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I love my Howard Leights, too. Where'd you get the gel pads?
 
You could try the banded type of earplug, they're inexpensive, super lightweight/low profile and you hardly know your wearing them. When your not using them they are conveniently nearby.
 
I tried the surefire ep 3. Very comfortable but gun shots cause them to ring for about a half second. I couldnt finish a round of skeet with them as they were almost painful with the ringing they make. Great for at work put they wont let me wear them there. I wouldnt trust them with a braked rifle either
 
leveractionjunkie said:
Which brand are you using? Where did you get fitted etc?

I’m using molded plugs that I get through work but can’t get an electronic option through work. Would love to get set up with electronic moulded in ear plugs. Specially for bird hunting.
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Just drop in to your nearest Audiologist clinic.
 
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