Hunting hearing protection

I've got electronic muffs but cant stand having them over my ears for any length of time when hunting...I wear them above my ears on my hat and pull them down when getting ready to shoot with my braked 338 LM. I already have continous ringing in both ears but don't want to make it any worse....why the hell can't we just use a sound suppressor on the rifle to begin with?
 
I have the Sordine Supreme Pros and my wife uses the Howard Leights. Both have their pros and cons but both work well. I even carry a pair of foamies on my backpack hunts.
While I don't wear ear pro for 100% of my hunting and shooting I never forget that I can always shoot a different animal on another day but I can't get new ears.....
 
I've got electronic muffs but cant stand having them over my ears for any length of time when hunting...I wear them above my ears on my hat and pull them down when getting ready to shoot with my braked 338 LM. I already have continous ringing in both ears but don't want to make it any worse....why the hell can't we just use a sound suppressor on the rifle to begin with?

Suppressors would be great..
 
Hi Steve,
We have a technician that specializes in hearing protection. She does a custom mold of your ear and there are several options you can choose from for electronics.
If you are located close to Calgary we have a solution for you!
 
A supressor does seem like the best option unless I get caught with it .

Heather, I would drop in but Calgary is a long way from me. What kind of price do these custom setups run?
 
I'm a process engineer and deal with this stuff often... A one off shot here and there will not affect you... Shooting typically causes a sound outside tinitus frequencies (although it may cause other issues)... If you are looking at 1-2 shots to take a deer etc I wouldn't worry about it...
 
I always use the electronic muffs while shooting. I tried to wear them while hunting but find I take them off as there is a hiss that bugs me. A more expensive type might not do this. I wear them while running the quad, snow machine etc. Picked up tinnitus along the way and find when wearing hearing protection, even for something as quiet as a four stroke ATV, the tinnitus behaves itself. Get some throw away stringed plugs and pop them in when you are setting up to shoot.
 
I have a set of the Howard Leight electronic muffs and find them comfortable with good amplification qualities.

I have been in a few situations in the past though where they have made it difficult to localize where sound was coming from, i.e. thought it was coming from one direction with them on, take them off and it's actually coming from a different spot. Because of this I don't like wearing them while hunting.
 
For hunting I wear foam plugs or plastic plugs on a string. I too have tinnitus and hearing loss and I can't afford to lose anymore
hearing. Loud noises also turn up the volume on the tinnitus.
For the record, my tinnitus and hearing loss are from shooting without proper protection.
 
Howard Leights, I always use them when hunting! They actually help me hear birds and other animals from further away. The only time I have noticed them to be a nuisance is when I'm wearing my hood, it doesn't like that and tends to squeak sometimes? But I would still recommend them 110%!
 
Howard leights for me also and will put plugs also and just turn up they volume. Work great for turkey and geese and will always wear them. Your hearing is worth the 60 bucks.
 
I have started to wear my electronic muffs just up above my ears over my head, with the tips of my ears just under the muffs.
It's a simple extra movement to raise one hand and pop them down over my ears.

I have mild/moderate hearing damage already and it can only get worse. When I'm at a dinner party with music playing in the background and multiple conversations going on, I find it difficult to keep up with the conversation I am in. Scary.

Anyone here saying one or two blasts from your 30-30 is nothing to worry about, should read this.
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/noise.aspx
 
I am just looking to see if anyone has suggestions for hearing protection that can be worn while hunting that won't affect my ability to hear game. I know most just go without ear plugs but I already have tinnitus from work and would like to avoid making it worse if possible.
I would also like to avoid breaking the bank if possible.

Thanks,
Steve

steve, I think you already know the answer.
Anything is better than nothing at all.
Deci Damps (trade name) foam expanding plugs.
I am suffering from tinnitus (level 2-3 out of 10) and use them now.
Even with the .22, cause we all know it isnt the one or two pops, but rather the repeated exposure to
continuous shooting.
Best Wishes on long and healthy hearing,
Rob
 
I just wear an ear plug in my shooting side ear, ie. gun on right shoulder = plug in right ear.
I find that's enough, my left ear doesn't ring after just one shot.

I blew my right ear drum awhile back and decided to do this. I found that it blocked way too much sound for me.
 
I just wear an ear plug in my shooting side ear, ie. gun on right shoulder = plug in right ear.
I find that's enough, my left ear doesn't ring after just one shot.
I would suggest you wear the ear plug in the left ear, this ear points towards the barrel end where the pressure wave is. When I get a hear test done yearly for work, the specialist always comments " your a shooter?" Your left ear has some loss, but your right ear is perfect" this is damage form shooting teams as a teen.


I absolutely love my Db blockers and use them at work around running helicopters with screaming turbines. I'm able to have an elevated volume conversation (speaking not yelling) with the pilots why the engine is running a few feet from my head. But while alone in the woods I can still hear a twig snap. They are passive not active sound reducing. Absolute comfort everyday all day. My only choice for firing guns all day at the range. Mine are in the 28-30 Db range
 
Yup its the left ear that gets the worse..they both will ring but the left ear might not stop, like mine. Had mine around my neck this year and forgot to put them in, with the excitement of the moment, go figure.
 
I've got electronic muffs but cant stand having them over my ears for any length of time when hunting...I wear them above my ears on my hat and pull them down when getting ready to shoot with my braked 338 LM. I already have continous ringing in both ears but don't want to make it any worse....why the hell can't we just use a sound suppressor on the rifle to begin with?

somebody needs to take guberment to court, in some scandinavic countries using supressors is considered beneficial for health and recomended by their government

like many here im using Howard Leighs, grest muffs, takes a bit to adjust to regular noises comming from woods though, just. ame back from moose hunt where one day, i spent an hour thinking a bull was circling around me, meanwhile a squirrel was just hopping all around, outside my field of vision :) it did however allowed me to notice a lynx sneekng by no more than 7 yards away :)
 
h ttp://www.earinc.com/p1-digital-advantage.php

Expensive but they work well. Nothing better than hearing the air rushing over the birds wings.
 
Back
Top Bottom