Author Topic: deer hunting///ear protection? (Read 1362 times)

alan in ga · « **on:** November 04, 2003, 01:34:56 AM »

how many of you guys use hearing/ear protection [plugs?] when deer hunting with your handguns? I quit using revolvers after taking a nice buck with one of the first Redhawks produced [years ago] because of the cylinder gap flash and blast that would sometimes reflect of the tree trunk I would use for a rest.
I shot my new Contender 10" bull barrel 357 Magnum [not Max] the other day with some old green box Remington 158 SPs and WOW,,,what a blast and flash. I'm not to sure about touching one of those off in the deer woods with 'nekid ears'! I used to use a Super 14 in 35 Rem and the 14" barrel did quite well getting the blast 'out front' and away from the shooters's ears [me].
Just wondering. I do have a 45 Win Mag Super 14" barrel that, although a "kicker", does not give near the blast the 10" 357 Mag barrel gives.
I guess I may be getting whimpy in my 52 years,,,but I sure want to keep the hearing I have 'left'!
Thanks for opinions or your experiences.

alan in ga · « **Reply #1 on:** November 04, 2003, 01:40:39 AM »

I would use my cast 250 Keith bullets as they gave MUCH less muzzle blast 'sharpness' as I would describe it. Guess the soft lead base reflects less "crack" back to shooter?? I'm sure you guys have noticed a difference in muzzle blast effect between lead and jacketed bullets.
The only problem tho,,if a high lung shot is made on deer,,they may run a 100 yards or so without bleeding 'out' and leave no blood trail. The one buck mentioned did this. The Keith [over 22 gr. of 2400] punched straight thru the upper lungs,,he ran and we looked for 30 minutes before finding him. However,,he left a LARGE blood area where he dropped. Guess a high lung shot with hard cast bullets will almost always do that.
alan in ga.

Questor · « **Reply #2 on:** November 04, 2003, 03:02:36 AM »

I think it's your load. I had the same experience with my 10" 44 mag contender when using Remington 185 grain ammo. The cloud of flame was a bright white flash that was easily two feet in diameter. Fired at an indoor range, it was momentarily blinding. It was also disturbing to other shooters. When I replaced it with a different ammo, the problem went away.

KYODE · « **Reply #3 on:** November 04, 2003, 03:11:46 AM »

last season, i took a deer with my 15" 7-08 and 13" 6br encore barrels. never heard the shot, had no ear ringing at all. took one with my 44 mag 7 1/2"redhawk a few years ago after emptying a full cylinder. couldn't hear for days!

Dave in WV · « **Reply #4 on:** November 04, 2003, 03:41:50 AM »

I have a set of ear plugs the Air Guard issued me when we had recip engined acft. The plugs are mounted on a steel band. I set the band on the bill of my hat and the plugs just above my ears on the side of my hat. When I see a deer I place the plugs in my ears and take the shot. I've shot out of a small hunting shed with no ill effect. I noticed Dick's sporting goods carries a set up much like what I have but the band is plastic.

BRL · « **Reply #5 on:** November 04, 2003, 05:22:37 AM »

I agree with Dave. I keep a small set of ear muffs around my neck while waiting for a deer. The band is around the back of my neck and the muffs in front. When I see a deer, I place a muff over an ear one at a time, keeping the band around the back of my neck. It's a very short movement and its never spooked a deer. If you try to keep the band on top of your head, it may make too much movement or knock your hat off your head. This happened to me the first time I tried muffs in the field and spooked a decent deer. That is why I switched to the "band behind the neck" method.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

osceola · « **Reply #6 on:** November 04, 2003, 05:23:32 AM »

I have used the Walkers Game Ear for the last 2 seasons of revolver hunting and believe they work well. Although, only having reception in one ear did throw me off at first until I got used to it. I eventually want to get a 2nd Game Ear to balance things out. Previously I used foam plugs that I put the last one in after I saw the animal but that became pretty cumbersome. There is not one animal that is worth losing my hearing over.

Mikey · « **Reply #7 on:** November 04, 2003, 05:34:10 AM »

Alan: it doesn't really matter what you are shooting, you should be wearing ear protection or at least have them somewhat in place so you can use them before taking the shot. I find it a rare occurance when I 'hear' something thrashing through the woods as most of my big game hunting is done during the late fall and early winter when I will have snow on the ground and I just never hear them coming but do see them. Ear plugs have save what hearing I have left and I recommend anything to protect your hearing. Those rifles/pistols that never bothered me before sure bother the heck out of me now and I would rather keep what hearing I have left than ignore the hearing loss. HTH. Mikey.

512 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 04, 2003, 05:40:51 AM »

i always use some form of hearing protection while hunting. we spot and stalk or call. some of the things we use are walker power muffs, pro ears power muffs, and before them foam plugs, sonic valve type plugs, even 9mm or 223 cases depending on your ear size. we always try to have something for protection. the power muffs are best if weather is cool but they do have a bit of a shine in sun light. they are great for calling coyotes and shooting with revolvers as they allow all sounds to reach your ears.

a simple plug attached to your hat band works well too. got some from a guy at the linebaugh seminat 2 yr ago. i think his company name was americas best or something like that. these can be homemade easily too.
512

SingleShotShorty · « **Reply #9 on:** November 04, 2003, 10:02:33 AM »

I alway's wear custom molded ear plugs when hunting, I have two sets one for the range and one that shuts out load sounds when hunting. You can get them from most ear doctors.

Foxcroft · « **Reply #10 on:** November 04, 2003, 01:41:10 PM »

:? After several years of my wife proving that I was not simply suffering from "selective" hearing loss, I finally broke down and invested in a pair of the Peltor Tac-6 stereo elctronic muffs. I'm still conditioning myself to using them (proper volume settings, etc.), but I'll admit they allow me to home in on the direction from which fairly low sounds (for example, a distant partridge flying up to roost) are coming from with little problem. Off the bench, they bring the blast from my 12 inch, 7-30 Waters down to nothing. Now if they'll only bring me the sound of hoof beats through the beech leaves.

Jim n Iowa · « **Reply #11 on:** November 04, 2003, 01:52:46 PM »

My hearing loss started 30 + yrs ago but I had no idea it was bad. Jets engines did me in. Today at 60 I am at a moderate hearing loss going south. To me the walker Quads look good for hunting, range work. It will be great for deer and work in the cool weather. However I also suffer from tinnitus which is like crickets or gas escaping in your ears.
Jim

Bullseye · « **Reply #12 on:** November 04, 2003, 03:54:21 PM »

I do not use any but some guns are starting to bother me in the woods. My Encore ML is the worst. I bought a pair of the Remington R2000 electronic muffs last night at Wally World. They had them on clearance for $75. I might give them a try this year.

ftw · « **Reply #13 on:** November 04, 2003, 04:58:53 PM »

I hear 80% of the deer before I see them. I could not stand to have my ears covered. I always wear hearing protection on the range. In the woods when hunting with a Contender,Blackhawk or Redhawk I have a band with ear plugs attached. I think it came from bass Pro but I have seen them other places. I wear them around my neck and out of the way. As soon as I see a deer i pop them in place.

I have worn them for about 3/4 of the times I have shot. Sometimes it is just not possible to get them in on time. The sound of the shot never bothers me but I am trying to be cautious. I agree it is very important to protect your hearing and I do make an effort to get the plugs in before the shot but sometimes.....

alan in ga · « **Reply #14 on:** November 05, 2003, 02:30:04 AM »

I'll be watching for a pair of band mounted plugs. Will get me in the woods with the Contender again. Thanks, Alan in GA
...now,,,the 45 Win Mag,,,or the 357 Mag?

!!!!

rickyp · « **Reply #15 on:** November 05, 2003, 03:16:35 AM »

what i did was take a extra set of normal muffs. sprayed them with camo paint. and when I am hunting I have a little screw in hanger that i got from wal mart of like $1.00 I pit it on the tree just above my head. I keep my gun hanging from one of them e-z hangers at about the same height of the ear muffs. When I see a deer I reach up and put on the muffs then reach over and get my contender it is all close and uses very little movement . this works well for me right now, how ever when I get the extra money I will be getting a set of walker game ears or something like them.

dakotashooter2 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 07, 2003, 05:21:29 AM »

Do now. One shot from my 41 mag gives me a painful reminder why.

Tom W. · « **Reply #17 on:** November 08, 2003, 03:57:57 PM »

My hearing is to the point where I don't believe crickets make any noise.
Tinnitus is not a pleasant thing, with a constant noise all of the time going on inside my head. I've gotten to the point where I'll wear earplugs for almost any activity that subjects me to loud or sharp noises. I wish I had started 45 years ago.

When I go hunting, I'll have a pair of earplugs around my neck. When I see a deer, I'll put them in slowly. It doesn't take too much movement, and is worth the effort. If I'm in a blind or shooting house, I'll have my muffs, in addition to the plugs. The plugs mentioned in the previous posts, with the band, can be gotten from E A R or Howard Leight company.
Like the ad says, "Don't leave home without it."

crawfish · « **Reply #18 on:** November 09, 2003, 02:20:48 AM »

Been using double protection (plugs and Mickey Mouse) since 1973, big naval guns did for me. Since I have been part of the civilian world I have used Peltor Tac 6 & 7 and a set of Game Ear Pro muffs. I always have one in my range bag and I always use the Pro Ear muffs while hunting. The olny thing I don't like about the muffs is that they tend to really amplify the "static" noise of the woods if you crank them up to high. You have to find your "level" where you can get good sound on the things you want to hear but not so much as to cause the "shooshing" static of the breeze in the leaves drive you nuts. :wink:

Possum · « **Reply #19 on:** November 14, 2003, 10:40:50 AM »

I have used three things in the past. Action Ears (the old black ones), Ear plugs on a string, and Ear Muffs (standard variety). If I am hunting a field I have had good sucess with either the plugs or muffs. I have more time to take the shot in a field. In the woods I wear the action ears just about all of the time. I can control the volume and they cut off very well with the shot. I don't think I have fired either pistol without some form of hearing protection. I am shooting a 30.06, 35Rem, and 30-30.

Hcliff · « **Reply #20 on:** November 15, 2003, 03:00:17 AM »

I always use double protection at the range. When I hunting I look like a dork but I will be safe. You take a pair of earplug that have the cord attached to them. Take the cord and go over top of you ear. (just like a eye glass bow). THe adjust the plug to hang at the level of the ear canal. Then when you need them they are there to insert. (I am still thinking about Walker's Game Ear although)

Hcliff

RWG · « **Reply #21 on:** November 16, 2003, 05:47:29 AM »

I made the mistake of shooting a deer with my 375JDJ with a muzzle brake many years ago. At that time I did not wear hearing protection while hunting. My ears were ringing for weeks afterward. Since that time I've always worn protection of some sort. What type depends on where I'm hunting. If I'm hunting on a large open field I usually have a set of muffs that I can slide on when a deer appears. If I'm hunting in heavy brush where a deer can appear at any instant I wear a set of amplified muffs. So far this has worked well for me.

Ronnie