Hearing protection while handgun hunting?

[Jal5]

How many of you wear hearing protection while handgun hunting and what type? I always wear one at the range. But first time hunting this weekend and the sound of the 357 Mag was way more than I thought. Not sure if I am super sensitive for hearing or what but my ears were ringing for quite a while after the shot.

So let me hear what you guys recommend!

Thanks.
Joe

[xphunter]

Muffs usually, sometime the foam ones.

[corbanzo]

I use the wrap around ones, that just plug over your ear holes, they offer enough protection, dont get in the way, keep around your neck, and are quick when needed, let me find a picture.

OK, found them, guess they are called banded ear plugs

http://www.amazon.com/SAS-Safety-6102-Banded-Plugs/dp/B000M5Z6HK

I think they usually run 6-7 bucks at the hardware store, but have replacement plugs so not that expensive all the time.  I use them for pretty much everything, really handy to have.  They don't offer the most protection as some other, but enough.

[Jal5]

I was thinking of getting those banded ones or using the crush rib type individual ones but wondered about how they will get in the way of the process: you need to hear the deer first, see it, plug the earplugs in, etc. Any thoughts on that?

[shot1]

I always hunt out of an enclosed shooting house type stand so a lot of movement is hidden. I use those ribbed type rubber ear plugs that are attached to a string that I keep around my neck. When I see a deer I quickly wet them in my mouth and stick them in my ears. By wetting them they go in easy and seal better. You NEVER want to shoot a pistol in a shooting house without ear protection, trust me on this one. If I were to hunt out in the open where excess movement of putting ear plugs in would be seen by a deer I would try some of those Walker game ears that help amp the sound but shut off when you fire a gun or some of the less expensive plugs that are open but with the concussion of a gun shot they shut off.  If it is cold weather, which it seldom is in east NC where I hunt, I would just wear my shooting muffs that work the same as the walker game ears because they would keep my ears really warm. They would sweat you to death in warmer weather that I usually experience in NC.

[Redhawk1]

Walkers Game Quad Muffs.

[rockbilly]

My friends, especially my young friends, I encourage you to wear hearing protection EVERYTIME you fire a gun if possible.  It will help take the “huh” out of the conversation when you get older!

[S.B.]

Just exchanged the Walker's game ear II for their digital muffs. They are exceptional and keep my ears warm on cold Illinois mornings!
Steve

[freedom475]

I prefur the banded plugs but this year I wore some little push in ones that are attached to a string.. Just have them around my neck all the time. Not that big a deal to just slip them in..

I just can't bring myself to shoot without them.. My 475 is Loud but so the the 44.

[Tom W.]

While hunting I'll use muffs, either the electronic ones or the plain ones. It takes a second to push the plain ones down over my ears, but it's worth the time. The electronic ones are wonderful. Just leave them on and they amplify almost everything except the shot.

[Chappy]

I've used the Walker Quad muffs for several years while hunting with 454 and 460 revolvers.  They are great aids for hearing deer coming through the woods, and from which direction.  They keep my ears warm in the Minnesota weather and protect from the extremely loud blast of these revolvers.  I recommend them and would not hunt and fire these guns without them.  Chappy

[Woodrow]

I use the Earpro EP3 or EP4 from Surefire.  They work good but there is no sound amplification.  They do let most normal sound through and block the shot noise very well.

http://www.surefire.com/EP3-Sonic-Defenders

[rawhidekid]

A company namened Silenceo used to make a baffled ear plug that allowed hearing conversation but shut off gun shots.  They were mechanical and very light.  My wife uses them when shooting, I just shut off my hearing aids before the shot.   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.

[Heavy C]

Foam ear plugs on a cord.  Keeps them handy.  I shot a 357 mag when I was in high school.  That pretty much taught me that I wouldn't want to shoot anything without hearing protection.

[streak]

My friends, especially my young friends, I encourage you to wear hearing protection EVERYTIME you fire a gun if possible.  It will help take the “huh” out of the conversation when you get older!

!0-4 on that!!

[nickE10mm]

yep... always, especially with 44mags. howard Leight Impact Sport models...about 60 bucks at Cabelas

[Autorim]

I use the Pro Ears Plus bought at Cabela's - not cheap at $249.00, but worth every cent to me. I don't shoot anything without ear protection, not even .22 SV. I already have plenty of hearing loss and don't need any more.

Ken

[Win 1917]

howard Leight Impact Sport models...about 60 bucks at Cabelas

I bought some on sale from Midway over the summer. Very happy with them. I haven't hunted with them yet but I used them at work and the range quite a bit and they've worked perfectly. Although at the range I double stack so I can concentrate better.

[goalie]

Pro Ears predator muffs.

Expensive?  Well, I think my hearings worth a little less than 300 bucks.  Especially if I can still hear the deer walking in the woods AND be protected from the loud gunshot noise.

[pmeisel]

What did you say?

[rawhidekid]

Pro Ears predator muffs.

Expensive?  Well, I think my hearings worth a little less than 300 bucks.  Especially if I can still hear the deer walking in the woods AND be protected from the loud gunshot noise.

I wear hearing aids in each ear, I would have rather lost a limb than my hearing.  It affected working more than my arthritis or wearing braces on both knees.  You don't know the fun of trying to get customers to talk slower and to speak up only to have them get mad at you because you can't understand them.  Try explaining to your Grandchildren why Grandps can't understand what they are trying to say.  Not worth $300.00?  Your hearing is priceless-do whatever you must to protect it while you have it!

[45-70.gov]

What did you say?

NEVER ......... but  i  should

some time  plugs  and  external  muffs  too
but  always  some  protection  at the  range

my  500 snw  and   50 BMG   are  the  only  mussle brakes

i  dont  hunt  with  them  [500  maybe  if  i get that  brake  off  it]

might  try  those  electronic  muffs  i seem  to leave at  home  all the time

[J. Plate]

I use the Radian's Hunters' Ears.    They run about $100 at Bass Pro or Cabela's. 

[Jal5]

thanks for all the replies. at the very least I will use the ear plugs on the wire next time.  it took several days for the effects to wear off from one unprotected incident, I know I don't want to do that again.

Joe

[woodchukhntr]

A soft plug in the left ear (I'm right handed) at all times, and one in the right ear if I have enough time and the movement won't be noticed.  I get the natural colored ones at the drug store or Walmart pharmacy dept.  My hearing, or what is left of it, is more important than hearing full sound from the left.

[Dand]

I wish I had.  The one time I shot a caribou with my 41 mag, I missed on several shots. And hit a couple too. My ears rang for a couple days. If I hunt with it again, I'll be carrying some sort of ear  protection. But it can be hard to put on quickly. On than 'bou: I was stalking him in open tundra. I took my eye off him and he lay down. I searched and searched and couldn't find him. Stood up and couldn't find him. Started to walk away and he popped up 50-60 yds behind me. I think I heard him get up. If I'd had muffs on I wouldn't have heard him.  But I didn't hear much for the next couple days after shooting him. Really hurt. As a kid in rifle club at an indoor range (22lr) we rarely wore or had protection. I began using some swimming earplugs that helped. Now I always wear protection on the range - double up on hand guns. But rarely when hunting with long guns. Should start really. I'm beginning to say huh a lot to the kids and they get frustrated. So do I.
Thanks for the discussion. I should look into these electronic options.

[S.B.]

Dand, certain type of the electronic muffs actually enhance hearing capabilites, so, improve your ability to hear the game before they hear you. Another plus for me. Better brands, anyway.
Steve

[odoh]

Lost much of my hearing in the military ~ (came in second place South East Asia Games of '68.) Wear hearing computers (late technology) since. I hunt w/muffs. If they cost me a shot at prey, I remind myself I'm sport hunting (not subsistance (yet)) and move on.

[Old Fart]

My friends, especially my young friends, I encourage you to wear hearing protection EVERYTIME you fire a gun if possible.  It will help take the “huh” out of the conversation when you get older!

!0-4 on that!!

What?

I learned my lesson years ago.
Where some kind of protection every time I crack one off these days.
I keep a pair of the plug in kindin my hunting pack, but prefer the ones with the band that lays around your neck.

[RJL-77]

Never used to but now Ihave to wear the hearing aids  from walmart and they are noise limiting to less than the crack st they work both ways.