Do you wear hearing protection when hunting?

[tominboise]

I never used to but I carry silicone plugs like everyone else does. I put them in before shooting. I have little hearing left and my left ear is screaming as I type this.

 

[LocoGringo]

My hearing protection is attached to the muzzle of the barrel. For my .308 AR, a 9" suppressor...for my 6.8 SPC, a 7" suppressor.

 

[Legionnaire]

... I'd like a good set of electronic muffs but those aren't legal here.

It's been a while since I've read the DEC hunting regs, but I don't recall a prohibition on electronic muffs. Can you point me to that language?

 

[beagler]

Shoot with the muzzle outside the blind.

We do, but muzzle brakes often make things louder, at least to me they do.

 

[stillquietvoice]

It's been a while since I've read the DEC hunting regs, but I don't recall a prohibition on electronic muffs. Can you point me to that language?

Been looking they may have changed the law since I last saw it its been quite a rew years. Mostly what I see is about devices for calling animals, still checking.

 

[FL-NC]

No hunting, yes at the range. Another reason not to use excessively high power calibers if they are not needed.

 

[buck460XVR]

Yes, always when hunting with big bore revolvers. Mostly electronic muffs or ropes with sound enhancement. I also use the enhanced hearing protection when turkey hunting, as they help me hear those subtle or distant responses that would otherwise never be heard because of my already heavily damaged hearing.

 

[tazbigdog]

Never had used them while hunting. At the gun range, yes all the time.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Nope for big game. Usually one shot.Small game ....sometimes.

 

[bearcreek]

No. Not for big game. I've never met anyone who did either. I probably would if I hunted waterfowl.

 

[hawg]

We do, but muzzle brakes often make things louder, at least to me they do.

Yeah they do. The only rifle I ever had a brake on was a .378 Weatherby Magnum but I never hunted with it. I normally hunt with a 26 inch barreled 30-06 and that doesn't bother me but I fired my .54 Hawken with the muzzle inside a shooting house once and that sucker got loud quick.

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

Yup, trying to save what little hearing I have left. Even with a single shot. Especially with big bore revolvers.

Electronic muffs with (loud) noise cancelling.
I can hear better with these than my custom hearing aids..........
but if windy, that noise sucks!

 

[Bugster]

I actually did use foam disposable ear plugs this year. I don't wear a face mask, but I can just roll my stocking hat up to insert the earplugs, it worked very well. This year was the first time I tried it.

 

[Kevinq6]

I wear tactical earmuffs, don't want any more ears ringing. I get medium price ones, don't want any screeching that can be heard.

 

[CraigC]

There is no question in my mind that a single gunshot can rupture eardrums, permanently damage hearing, cause hearing loss, and cause tinnitus that persists for a lifetime. I know that people "get away with it" all the time, but it's a risk to take with a very grievous consequence.

It's interesting how many people think it doesn't matter, because "it's just one shot". As if you magically get a pass.

 

[Skoghund]

I wear hearing protection for all my shooting be it hunting or down the range. Peltor Sport Tac when using the double rifle, combi or shotgun. We use hunting radio's and these plug into the peltors. They also keep your lugs warm on cold days. I use custom electronic ear plugs when using my Mauser M03 because it has an adjustable comb and this hits the Peltors when I mount the rifle. The only problem I have with muff type ear protection is that I have Ears of trophy quality and my ear lobes hang below the muff cups.
Suppressors on a rifle will still result in a noise that is damageing to your hearing.

 

[wbm]

Do you wear hearing protection when hunting?

No.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Only for high volume shooting and using rifles with muzzle brakes or porting.

Did this year with my 300 Win Mag that has a brake.

 

[JDeere]

If you value your hearing you will wear some sort of protection. After years of shooting and hunting without proper protection it sucks not to be able to hear well any longer. I suppose dirt bikes and racing cars did not help either. Now days I have to have hearing aids to hear. I have a good set of muffs for the range and wear those foam ones when I take a shot out hunting to save what I got left...

 

[bluebanana]

I use Walkers Silencer 2.0 Electronic Ear Plugs. They are awesome, very comfortable and just block out the shot while allowing me to hear ambient sounds.

 

[bearcreek]

It's interesting how many people think it doesn't matter, because "it's just one shot". As if you magically get a pass.

I think most who don't wear them don't know any better. Those of us who do know, basically consider it an acceptable compromise. It's a fact that it's possible for a person to hunt big game (meaning 1-5 shots/year w/o hearing protection) for their entire lives using a non magnum caliber and suffer no real significant hearing loss.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

It's a fact that it's possible for a person to hunt big game (meaning 1-5 shots/year w/o hearing protection) for their entire lives using a non magnum caliber and suffer no real significant hearing loss.

Keep telling yourself that.

 

[earlthegoat2]

High volume swine shooters and waterfowl hunters should absolutely wear ear pro.

I always wear it when target shooting. I never felt the need to while hunting until I used a brake on my rifle.

It’s so easy there is no reason not to for any hunting anymore.

I use Howard Leight earmuffs. I think they were $40 on sale. Pretty small price to pay.

 

[bearcreek]

Keep telling yourself that.

You disagree, I assume? Do you know of someone who only fired a non magnum firearm less than 5 times/ year without hearing protection that now has significant (that's bolded for a reason) hearing loss that can be attributed to said firing?

 

[Big_Al]

No, I don't for hunting. For target shooting I do.