Author Topic: Hearing protection>>> (Read 2055 times)

Alaninga · « **on:** February 02, 2005, 12:58:32 AM »

how many of you wear hearing protection [during the shot] when DEER hunting?
Do you hunt with a revolver or single shot [Contender]?
Have you ever experienced what you believe to be inner ear damage when using a revolver?
just curious. I used to use revolvers,,now a Contender if using a pistol what with 'no' cylinder gap. Cylinder gap has done two things in my experience:
1) blow bark off tree being used for steadying of shot
2) reflect side blast from cylinder gap back towards ear.

Anyone take ear plugs to install at last minute before deer shot?
alan in ga.

Questor · « **Reply #1 on:** February 02, 2005, 09:48:59 AM »

I don't use hearing protection while hunting, but use the best available for target shooting. I did switch back to carrying a .22 pistol instead of a .38 pistol for squirrel hunting and general field carry because the 38 is much louder and it's no more effective than the .22.

Gregory · « **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2005, 12:01:14 PM »

I'm sorry could you repeat the question.......I didn't hear you the first time.
:-)

I do not wear hearing protection while deer or small game hunting where the shots are few and far between. I do wear ear plugs when shooting doves or crows with a shotgun. I didn't always use ear plugs as a young shooter and I do have mid frequency hearing losss (just happens to be the same frequency as my wife's voice :-D ).
I'm very careful at the rifle range to protect my hearing now.

Lawdog · « **Reply #3 on:** February 02, 2005, 12:18:26 PM »

Walker's Game Ears. Well worth the money. Lawdog

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #4 on:** February 02, 2005, 12:21:24 PM »

never did but will in the future. I cranked off a round out of a ported tc in 730 waters inside my deer blind in Nov. and my ears still have a slight ring in them. Probabaly did permenant damage to them.

Alaninga · « **Reply #5 on:** February 02, 2005, 12:37:17 PM »

I wouldn't dare shoot a pistol without protection again.
After shooting:
45 Win Mag [14" barrel]
.357 Mag [10" barrel]
.35 Rem [14" barrel]-actually this one was not that bad.
The .357 Herret in 14" barrel I just bought.
I'll just have to risk the deer seeing me ease the plugs/whatever up to my ear.
One of the worst cases was a wet snowing day [about 34 degrees] and I shot a feral dog with my .250 Ackley Ultra Lite Ruger with 20 inch barrel. Tintinitis for days. Definate damage I'm betting.
alan in ga.....[huh?]

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #6 on:** February 02, 2005, 01:37:20 PM »

Never have but I may now after all of these responses..

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 02, 2005, 01:59:11 PM »

I sure will after getting into these ported guns. Especially the 500MAG.

Alaninga · « **Reply #8 on:** February 02, 2005, 03:29:10 PM »

those that say "it don't bother me". It does NOT MATTER if you can 'stand it' or not...the damage is BEING DONE. You will be a brave tough guy right up until all you can say is,,,,"what did you say,,,I can't hear you".
Honest.

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #9 on:** February 02, 2005, 04:59:22 PM »

I was thinking of an inexpensive way to get this done...I don't want to drop hundreds of dollars although your hearing is priceless and hundreds is nothing compared to the price of hearing aids and all that comes with that...How about those ear plugs that kinda look like the mini headphones that you use with a walkman type personal radio? You could have them hanging around your neck and when the moment of truth arrives they could be placed in your ear in a split second. I don't want to take those big muff style ear protection with me and the little foam ones that you roll up and put in your ear would be tough with gloves on. What do you all think? :?

Alaninga · « **Reply #10 on:** February 02, 2005, 09:22:41 PM »

those that are foam cones mounted on curved plastic hoop,,,I think I've seen airport baggage handlers wearing them. Quickly and easily brought up to ears.
You will many times see deer and watch them for seconds or even minutes before taking a shot. You should have time for 'most' shot opportunities. If not,,well ok. But have them just in case one of those 'slowly' approaching deer occurs. Solid barrels are usually much less of a blast compared to cylinder gap revolvers. Large blasts out the side can direct almost directly to the ear.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 03, 2005, 02:45:48 AM »

I for one have started wearing hearing protection. I have always wore hearing protection what shooting at the range but not while hunting. I have noticed I cannot hear sounds as well as I use to. Also my wife says I talk very loud. I guess I can't hear myself. :eek:

S.B. · « **Reply #12 on:** February 03, 2005, 04:24:16 AM »

Quote from: Lawdog

Walker's Game Ears. Well worth the money. Lawdog

Does this thing work for both ears or do you have to buy two of them for twice the high price?
Reread your post, you must be talking about the muffs not the one ear job, sorry.

Lawdog · « **Reply #13 on:** February 03, 2005, 07:55:20 AM »

S.B.,

You have to buy two of them. I know they are costly but as stated, what is your hearing worth? After 30 plus years in law enforcement and a lifetime of hunting/shooting, even being as careful as I could be, I have a permanent 17%(average) hearing loss in both ears(20% in my left and a bit less than 15% in my right). I never realized just how much of a difference that much loss is until I tried the Game Ear for the first time. The woods are not quiet at all. I had forgotten just how much noise a squirrel makes eating a nut or birds fighting over a bug in the trees overhead. Now I dont go into the fields/woods without Game Ears in both ears. I realize there are other brands out there and have heard that they work but I always figured if it aint broke, dont fix it. I know Walkers work. Lawdog

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 03, 2005, 08:07:59 AM »

Lawdog, will the Game Ear work with a heavy boomer such as the 500 MAG ported? I have a set of electronic ear muffs that work good with non-ported guns, but with the ported guns the noise still hurts my ears. I had to put foam ear plugs in as well as the ear muffs. :eek:

jar-wv · « **Reply #15 on:** February 03, 2005, 08:21:06 AM »

I just got a set of the walkers electronic muffs and plan on using them next deer season. I always wear muffs when target shooting, even if its a 22. Worst thing that ever made my ears ring was a Ruger BH in 30 carbine. Very sharp report.

jar

ShottieMan · « **Reply #16 on:** February 03, 2005, 02:16:55 PM »

I wear when at the range. Not while hunting. I have been thinking about wearing the corded ear plugs while hunting tho'. I have slight hearing loss already (compressed air with no ear plugs :shock: ) I drive the ol' lady nuts with "huh". I say that word about 100-200 times a day

Alaninga · « **Reply #17 on:** February 03, 2005, 02:48:30 PM »

I sitll remember the day. Buddy brought it over,we walked out into the woods behind house. It [again]was a cold damp day-this is what I believe is the worst conditions for shock wave travel to ears. WOW,,one shot and my ears rang for day or two.
When I bring up discussion of wearing ear protection while hunting with pistols,,,the most common response is " I don't while hunting,,and it really doesn't bother me".
It does not have to "bother" a shooter,,,to do permanent damage. You can go deaf quite comfortably.
alan in ga.

S.B. · « **Reply #18 on:** February 03, 2005, 03:01:17 PM »

First, I don't now. But in the future, I can see a set of sound enhancing muffs. To quite the report of the rounds I shoot, and to keep more heat to my ears during the Illinois winter deer season.

GhosTT · « **Reply #19 on:** February 03, 2005, 03:17:11 PM »

This is one subject I feel so strongly about,
I post threads from time to time on it.

I have worked in a loud factory for almost 26 years.
Every one of those years we have had people come in and train EVERYBODY on hearing protection.

I know the science behind it,they taught us how sound damages your hearing.

Won't even try to teach you how it happens in detail, but............

You need hearing protection for EVERY SHOT, unless you are willing to lose some hearing.

Every shot, even 22's do damage.

You never notice it with milder rounds,but it happens.
If you have fired a single centerfire round and heard a ringing sound, guess what---Damage.

It all adds up, but the fact is, while hunting, you can wear, at the very least plugs,or do what I do. Buy electronic muffs that magnify your hearing, yet cut off the sound of the shot.

Know a ton of hunters that think those few shots do no real damage, but always seem to have to speak up louder when I answer them.

I'm 44, my company tests my hearing every year,and I rate with the best hearing in the plant.That's not by luck.

IF YOU"RE SHOOTING , WEAR HEARING PROTECTION

Whatever you lose, you can't get back!

Lawdog · « **Reply #20 on:** February 04, 2005, 11:16:29 AM »

Redhawk1,

At the Range I use Walkers Power Muffs Quad. Better protection I havent been able to find. While hunting I wear the Walkers Game Ear II in both ears. As for working on big boomers like a ported .500 Mag. I would say YES. The only .500 S&W I have seen is in my local sporting goods store. None have shown up at our club but a number of .454s have. My sons for one. The Game Ear II has a noise reduction rating of (NRR):29dB which shuts out the blast from the .454s(of which two are ported). I know there is no problem with them shutting down the noise from my big bores(.450 Rigby, .378 Weatherby, etc.) that I know that shooting without proper protection will not only make your ears ring but leave you with a headache. Lawdog

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 04, 2005, 11:48:40 AM »

Mine shut down the noise also, but the sound penetrates the muffs on the 500MAG. :eek:

DOGGY · « **Reply #22 on:** February 04, 2005, 12:44:20 PM »

I don't but i am looking into a walkers game ear also! but more importunely i always use some sort of eye protection espcailly walking to treestand with flashlight still probability of getting hit in the eye with a sapling or something going wrong with weapon of choice you hunt with. Your hearing is one thing but protect those peepers!

JWB500 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 04, 2005, 04:38:28 PM »

I never did until I got my 500. Now I wear plugs while hunting with it.
I've been telling myself to get the Walker game ears for awhile now, this year I'm going to get the game ears.
I know I've lost some hearing, I don't know how much, but I definitly have lost some. When I was in the Corps, they gave us cotton to plug our ears, then I worked 30yrs. as a pile driver no protection until the last 10yrs. You younger guys should do all you can to protect your hearing.

454-hunter · « **Reply #24 on:** February 04, 2005, 04:41:14 PM »

Well I do and I tell you how I usually take a pair of those earplug kid that you dont have to scrunch up before sticking in your ear the kind that have the removable string that comes with the and I tie them to the back of my camo ball cap and when I verry first spot the deer or game in question I stick them right in they are always right were I can find them and they are not restrictive or cumbersome. I found out a few yrs. ago that I was experienceing some hearing lose in my left ear (most assuredly from shooting big bore handguns ) and I started with the earplugs eversince it has helped me maintain my hearing . I shoot a 454 casull and you know how loud those babies are and I simply dont like the fact that I cant hear anything for about 2 minutes and that a constant ringing stays in my ears for hrs. afterwards.

Stan H.

Tom W. · « **Reply #25 on:** February 04, 2005, 06:46:35 PM »

When deer hunting I usually sit in a blind, nice and comfortable. I keep my earmuffs on my right thigh, and when I see a deer, I'll put them on. It only takes a second or two.I have enough problems with my hearing so I'll not disregard what's left. I don't need to kill a deer, but I sure enjoy hearing. The tinnitus is bad enough that I cannot hear crickets, unless I have a bucketful of them at my face.

rimfire · « **Reply #26 on:** February 04, 2005, 08:46:20 PM »

I carry the earplugs that come on a string with little plastic posts with the foam section mounted on the end. I believe E-A-R is the maker. The little posts make these very quick to insert and I have only shot one deer in the past three years without them. He surprised me on the edge of a field and I had to shoot quickly with my Contender. Otherise, the vast majority of the time deer give you plenty of time. I have actually walked a mile back to my truck to grab my earplugs when I forgot them. I think anyone who does not at least attempt to use them is crazy. I sure do not want to listen to constant ringing in my ears every day and/or not be able to hear my kids tell me they love me.

Turkey season always gets me as it seems I never have the chance to get them in while trying to hear the bird coming in, set up for the shot, slip in the plugs at the last minute and shoot. Never got it done yet so I am thinking of getting a Game Ear or somrthing of the sort with this year's tax refund.

Any negatives to the game ear other than the price for both ears?!!!!

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #27 on:** February 05, 2005, 10:14:31 AM »

I knew I loved archery for another reason...You don't damage your ears when shooting your bow...

singleshotfan · « **Reply #28 on:** February 05, 2005, 11:55:13 AM »

Just keep shooting without hearing protection. You will gradually get used to it. Pretty soon it won't bother you at all.
The electronic muffs are tops. Amplifies sounds and cuts out the shot. I have used them with ported guns as well. When I work range duty thisis all I use.
Bama Boy, don't you hate the constant cricket sounds? I do.
Richard

Tom W. · « **Reply #29 on:** February 05, 2005, 04:30:02 PM »

You bet I do!
And to think that I am required to wear earplugs at work. But in my younger, more foolish days, I thought earplugs were for sissies. Boy, was I wrong. I can't stress enough the importance of wearing hearing protection.

My youngest son, while hunting last year, shot three hogs within a five minute timespan with his .480 without earplugs. He was almost totally deaf for two weeks because of that stunt. He won't do it again, either, but I'll bet that by the time he's my age, he won't believe crickets make noise, either!