Electronic muffs while hunting?

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SunnySlopes

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I wear foam ear plugs and non electronic muffs when I target shoot.

From all of my research this is the best protection for my ears, as I already have hearing damage from unprotected shooting, etc.

What about for hunting? I have Howard Leight Impact Sport muffs I've been wearing for hunting, but yesterday (223, S&W M&P15 PC) was the first time I ever discharged a firearm while wearing them.

Are electronic muffs solo an ok alternative?
 
Absolutely a good deal, consider them as hearing enhancment, you can hear game in the woods a lot better with them on and turned to a comfortable volume.
 
I think they are a good idea, protect your ears and still be able to hunt
 
Absolutely. I went hunting once and used Impact Pros. I had them on all day from dusk to dawn, no problems. You can hear great, and after a while, you might even forget they're on.
 
So, the muffs alone will reduce the explosion to a safe level?

I never understood how they worked. I always thought they shut off all sound during the gunshot. But what they do is shut off all dBs above the safe level, while allowing all sound below the dangerous level?

That was just too weird. I can get used to that.

But if both plugs and muffs are recommended for protecting a shooter's hearing, how is it that wearing electronic muffs by themselves is safe?
 
Make sure hearing enhancing devices are OK where you hunt. Here in WI it is not.
 
I've done a lot of shooting with just the Impact Sports, and while they don't protect so much against the "concussion" at indoor ranges, they are perfect at outdoor ranges and when I'm hunting.
 
For deer hunting absolutely not. For one I can't stand the way they feel and I also think that it's not really fair chase if it enhances your hearing.

For hunting that requires lots of shots and my ability to hear the animal/bird I'm hutning isn't important I may put some ear plugs in.

Basically I'm not at all worried about the occassional gun shot fired in a hunting situation. I'd be much more worried about my car stereo volume or prolonged use of ipod earbuds.
 
Also, I have a pair of Howard Leight Impact Sports muffs and wore them yesterday for coyote hunting.

I discharged my 223 and must not have had a good "weld" on my left ear because there was a slight "ringing" after the shot that didn't last long.

I say it didn't last long because it blended in real well with the nonstop "ringing" (tinnitis) I have anyway.
 
I love mine, I have complete hearing loss in my left ear (stroke) and partial loss in my right, if not for my "unfair" advantage I would of missed my spike elk coming down the mountain 100yrds up from me. Luckly I was able to watch him come through the brush and stop about 45yrds from me. I was able to shoot him through the right nostril (the only clear shot) as he was looking at me.
Yea, I will hunt with mine on any time.
I can't wear hearing aids due to a physical anomily.
 
I need all the "unfair" advantages I can get as I decline physically with age! I say use the enhanced hearing muffs. Those that consider it unfair advantage should start deer hunting with a spear to make it a more fair chase scenario!
 
SunnySlopes: They are great, my Son and I have used them for several years. I am real hard of hearing, and I miss alot of sounds while I am out hunting or shooting. With the Electronic Muffs I can hear a normal conversation and sounds I have not heard in many years. I wear mine solo when hunting or shooting outside, but use both ear plugs and muffs at an indoor shooting range. You might give them a try.
ken
 
They just make "everything" that much louder. Hearing aid turned up will do almost the same thing. It does not seperate the various noises.
Someone hard of hearing may benefit from them.
 
I use those muffs for target shooting, really love them. I haven't taken them out for hunting yet but hope to soon!
 
I wear electronic muffs hunting part of the time (deer hunting). The increased sound level eventually becomes uncomfortable to me. The wind noise is what bothers me. I keep ear plugs around my neck on a string and the electronic muffs are available. If I have the muffs on when I need to take a shot, great,; otherwise I usually slip in the ear plugs as they don't require a lot of movement and you can keep your hands mostly within your profile. My goal is to have ear protection "on" when ever I shoot.

In a blind or well built tree stand (box type), I suspect slipping on the muffs would not be a huge problem.
 
For those of us who have poor hearing, electonic muffs preserve what hearing we have left and bring our hearing close to normal.
I would like to find some muffs with a lower level of electronic noise (hiss).

Vit-
Please check current WI regulations regarding use of electronics.
The regulations have been changing recently in several areas.

This is from the 2012 WI Deer Hunting regulations:
"Hunters may not use cellular phones, special free radio communications, or other
mechanical or electronic amplifying devices (except hearing aids) to get someone to
tag a deer.
It is legal to use electronic devices for reasons other than getting someone
to tag a dee
r."

Be Safe and Hve Fun !
-steve
 
I would like to find some muffs with a lower level of electronic noise (hiss).

You're right. I was frequently getting an almost morse code sound in them. Also, they wanted to "ring" as in feedback when I turned to certain positions.

I'm definitely going to be looking at other options. The more expensive electronic muffs look to be good for handguns, but are way too bulky for a cheek weld to the longun stock.

The Leight's are low profile and, while not ideal for longuns, are ok.
 
I lost a significant portion of my hearing when my partner and I were ambushed behind a police station in 1979. Since that time, I continued to shoot quite frequently using the earplugs and muffs, to protect the hearing I still had. BTW I had received a pair of hearing aids that would electronically cut out certain decibels that were hazardous to my hearing at a cost of $2000.00 each. These worked fine untill I tried a set of Silencio Range Safe RSX-87 ear muffs. I bought those around 1998 and they are a bit antiquated, as far as the weight goes; they use a 9volt battery in each muff, but they still work very well. As a Range Master out here in Southern Nevada I still use them, but am thinking about purchasing a new set here shortly.

I do highly recomend this type of hearing protection for use in shooting especially in indoor ranges as well as outdoor ranges, cause believe me your hearing is a very special gift.
 
I have some Walker Game Ears and love them. They kill the concussion and noise. Muffs to me are better than plugs at reducing the concussion like in an enclosed building. The Walkers work well, and reduce the noise of everything I've had to a nice low level and allow you to talk to your friends while shooting.
 
There are two kinds of electronic muffs. One kind cuts off all sound if it reaches a preset level, usually 82db. The other kind does not cut off, but compresses the sound so nothing is over 82db. You can still the sound, it's just not loud enough to do damage. The cut off muffs are usually cheaper. Buy the kind you like.

I currently use a set of the hearing aid type that I bought last year. Expensive, but I really like them.
 
Electronic muffs over plugs is a winning combo. The plugs are a fail-safe protection, while the muffs add extra protection and can be turned up to counteract the plugs. When the shot happens, you have double protection, but in the meantime you hear almost normally.

The downside is that some people just don't like that much junk in and around their ears.
 
Howard Leight's are worthless unless you augment with in the ear canal protection also. I've gone through the cheaper to more expensive, and while the pro muffs cost hundreds of dollars, and instantly clamp audio, they still need in ear protection, for their smaller models, which allow long gun shooting without physical interference. I've not used their (pros) huge pistol/indoor range/outdoor range muffs, but the youtube audio clips, if to believed, made them sound like they would not require any in-ear plugs at all. The difference was huge, competing with other muffs on the market.

Having said that, the electronics are a joy to be able to hear conversation with them on. Their best feature, actually. But please use in ear protection with all electronic muffs, except those huge pros mentioned above, if you may get by without them. I cannot afford them for a pair for pistol shooting only. Hunting would be great for them (the smaller muffs with electronics), as you may hear high-frequencies much easier. I don't hunt, but have stomped around the woods at outdoor ranges and they are fantastic. I wish I had some hearing aids which worked as well, that had absolutely zero hiss/noise.

The cheaper muffs do suffer background hiss, mainly due to poor amplifier design and too much gain, but you always may turn them down and alleviate that fault somewhat.

You get what you pay for, but the smaller pros headband/cups attachments are very cheap, and disappointing, given they cost hundreds of dollars.
 
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So, the muffs alone will reduce the explosion to a safe level?

I never understood how they worked. I always thought they shut off all sound during the gunshot. But what they do is shut off all dBs above the safe level, while allowing all sound below the dangerous level?

That was just too weird. I can get used to that.

But if both plugs and muffs are recommended for protecting a shooter's hearing, how is it that wearing electronic muffs by themselves is safe?

Good questions.

I'd also like to know why some people swear by electronic muffs, yet they typically have lower(in some cases MUCH lower) db protection ratings?
 
Are electronic muffs solo an ok alternative?

If you find them useful target shooting and you find that you can turn the volume up enough to hear normally through foam plugs I would expect you'd want to the extra protection the plugs offer while hunting if you're already using the muffs.
 
I ran into a old timer (90+yrs) in the hills of eastern Kentucky some years back while I was doing some water quality research. He seemed quite lonely, so I ended up talking to him for awhile. He talked about hunting squirrels in the surrounding woods all his life. His hearing gradually declined over the years; having a negative impact on his success at squirrel hunting. He had just gotten some new hearing aids, and was very proud that he could hear everything. Bad thing was, when he hunted he could hear all kinds of squirrels in the woods, but couldn't tell which direction the noise was coming from... :cuss:
 
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