Hearing protection while handgun hunting?

[odoh]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Oh, case you get the wrong idea, Air Force Jets took out my hearing, although when I went into the service in 69 they didn't use ear protection on the range eather.

Yeh, hear ya (pun intended). KC135 lifting off w/full load while working the localizer array at the end of the runway took mine ~

[rawhidekid]

It wasn't bad enough calling in air strikes in Korea 70-71, I came back to work mobile control towers for four years.  In between pulling SP augmenty guarding flight lines with B-52's taking off on one side and C-5's on the other.  When I asked for ear protection I was told "if you wore ear protection you couldn't hear someone sneeking up on you".  Thought I was safe in a radio shop then found out the sonic cleaner we used for six months required ear protection when on.  Got out with 20 years, high blood pressure, arthritus, and bad hearing.   I can honestly say if I had it to do over knowing how it would end I would have got out at four years and gone into law enforcement as I had planned, but now can't.

[Glanceblamm]

rawhide kid, Only good thing about a B-52 is that you wouldn't often get the request from a mischievious pilot to go around?  and no, I am not talking bout the preppy Tom Cruise movie.

I use the "ear" type of foam plugs at the range but (gasp) nothing while hunting...unless it would be for Squirrel...I tried a friends amplified set once and they worked good for blocking the shot noise but the amplification of subtle noise such as the hair or back of my neck against the collar would be quite distracting.

[rawhidekid]

I use the electronic muffs with my in the ear hearing aid on.  Only on one side though as the dog ate the other one.  The new hearing aids are the over the ear and wont work with the muffs.   When hunting I just use my hearing aids and turn them off to make a shot, when off they are ear plugs.

[rybo]

I quickly got a pair of those walkers electronic muffs after firing off my first rounds at a deer without protection & my ears rang the rest of the day.
I'll never hunt without them

[Lost Oki]

Like several on this site, I lost my hi pitch hearing in the late 60's around jet engines even with hearing protection.    I also acquired tinitus....ringing in the ears.  Late 70's I lost some of my low pitch to ear infections....WEAR YOUR HEARING PROTECTION....no I am not shouting, I am just talking at my normal level, your young ears are just sensitive.......at 61 I sometimes have the ringing in 3 octaves.....
I was once able to set up a sound meter to reflect the noise pitch and decibel level I hear all the time.....many left the room...
AGAIN>>>Wear Your Hearing Protection with ALL loud noises...at the range, hunting, gas powered weed eaters, chain saws, when and if you weld...yes it is extremely hard on you hearing....Costs.....Look at this way, the cheap analog hearing aids from a good source run about $600 each and last 5 to 6 years if the cat don't eat them, they don't make a trip thru the washing machine...
Digital....start around $1000.00 each....Is nice when the wife is complaining, sucks when you can't hear your bow squeak when you draw on the biggest buck of your life...standing broad side at 25 yards....enuff said

[skarke]

Foam inserts.  One 44 mag shot is enough to do permanent damage.  Ask your audiologist.

[Mike in Virginia]

In the late 60's, people didn't wear hearing protection.  I shot and shot and shot without protection. Even on the range in the military, we just fired away with 1911's and M1's.  Now, I have almost complete high frequency loss in my left ear, not to mention a constant ringing. Smoking was okay with everybody.  Thankfully, I didn't do that.  Now, everyone knows not to smoke and to wear ear protection.   

[jimone]

I use the cheap Caldwell electronic muffs, one ear went out in my Berretta ones after just over a year, out of warrentee. They help you hear how loud your feet are.