Hunting ear protection?

[Gary O]

I went to the Republic of South Africa last May on a plains game hunt where I took 5 animals. My plan was to use hearing protection while shooting. To that end I wore some ear plugs around my neck while hunting and did not use them for one animal. As a result my hearing is just now returning to what it was when I left. My thought now is to purchase some high quality electronic ear muffs with the thought in mind that I could wear them constantly and therefore not forget to use them during the excitement of the shot. I have some $50 pairs that I use at the range that work most of the time, but I cannot say that they are all-day-comfortable. What say you? Thanks…

 

[oldguy870]

I use the Howard Leight Impact Sport when I jackrabbit hunt with .223.

http://www.howardleight.com/ear-muffs/impact-sport

I can go about 4 hours before they start to get uncomfortable. They are fairly inexpensive.

 

[christcorp]

unless you took all 5 animals; and took all 5 shots; back-to-back; there's no reason that your hearing should have been affected and now "Returning to what it was". A single shot shouldn't have that kind of negative affect on you. Unless you took 3-4 shots at a single animal because you aren't a very good shot. In such scenarios, including self defense, your brain automatically shuts out the gunfire noise. Unless you're concentrating on the gun noise, and not the animal/human that you are shooting.

The average gun fires at the 110-130db range. For a singular occurrence, that is not enough to do any permanent damage. That's usually in the 200db range. However, constant exposure to the 110-130 is another issue all together. e.g. an hour at the range and shooting a couple hundred rounds.

Bottom line: I don't even consider using hearing protection for hunting. a) I won't be taking more than 2 shots at an animal. b) There won't be any permanent damage at that few shots.

 

[TonyAngel]

My problem is that I can't shoot a rifle worth a darn wearing muffs.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I have electronic muffs but don't find them that comfortable after about two hours. I've considered getting the Walker Game ears though they are a bit spendy.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Those yellow or orange foam roll-up 'jobbies' work the best and are the least cumbersome.

Some of the electronic muffs are good, if you spend enough money on them.

 

[Pony Express]

I just wear a pair of your typical John Deere-style hearing protectors (intended for power equipment, but they work all the same) and slip 'em over my ears as soon as I have the target in sight. I have yet to wear a pair of electronic hearing protectors that are as good as my ears.

 

[MrCleanOK]

If you're in the hot part of Africa, muffs are probably going to be sweaty and uncomfortable enough that you won't want to wear them for an entire hunt. I'd just stick with the plugs, and remember to put them in before you take your shot.

 

[Gary O]

If I could remember to do that, there would be no use for this thread. I hunt in the cool Fall in Africa; heat is not a problem..

 

[withdrawn34]

In such scenarios, including self defense, your brain automatically shuts out the gunfire noise.

Your brain does not perceive the noise; however, your brain cannot "shut" the ears. Your ears still receive the sound and your hearing will still be damaged.

In such scenarios, including self defense, your brain automatically shuts out the gunfire noise. b) There won't be any permanent damage at that few shots.

Yes, there will be, but not enough to make you go deaf. Hearing loss injury is generally cumulative.

 

[razorback2003]

Doesn't walker make good slip hearing aid style protection? The electronic kind are expensive but being deaf costs more than electronic hearing protection. Real hearing aids are very expensive and a frustrating way to live. If legal in your area to use, silencers/suppressors are another option when hunting. Electronic hearing protection is good because you can use it with any firearm.

 

[christcorp]

Your brain does not perceive the noise; however, your brain cannot "shut" the ears. Your ears still receive the sound and your hearing will still be damaged.



Yes, there will be, but not enough to make you go deaf. Hearing loss injury is generally cumulative.

If you're worried about hearing loss/damage while "HUNTING", where at the most, you'll fire 2 shots, "Unless you really suck", then maybe you should find a new hobby/sport. I've already qualified the difference between consistent firing; e.g. at the range; and hunting. I've been hunting deer, antelope, elk, moose, goat, sheep, etc... for about 40 years. Plus, I spent 21 years in the military, with enough time in the sand box and central america. I'm not worried in the least about hearing loss because of that style of shooting. Then again, some people consider hunting, being driven out to a point where the guide says: "Shoot that one". I guess in that scenario, hearing protection might be practical. You have all the time in the world. But in real hunting, walking around with hearing protection anticipating the shot, which you don't know WHEN, all to protect yourself against 1 shot, or possibly a 2nd shot, is simply not necessary.

 

[ball3006]

When I hunt I don't wear hearing protection. When you pull the trigger on a shot at game, you won't hear the shot anyway......chris3

 

[oneounceload]

unless you took all 5 animals; and took all 5 shots; back-to-back; there's no reason that your hearing should have been affected and now "Returning to what it was". A single shot shouldn't have that kind of negative affect on you. Unless you took 3-4 shots at a single animal because you aren't a very good shot. In such scenarios, including self defense, your brain automatically shuts out the gunfire noise. Unless you're concentrating on the gun noise, and not the animal/human that you are shooting.

The average gun fires at the 110-130db range. For a singular occurrence, that is not enough to do any permanent damage. That's usually in the 200db range. However, constant exposure to the 110-130 is another issue all together. e.g. an hour at the range and shooting a couple hundred rounds.

Bottom line: I don't even consider using hearing protection for hunting. a) I won't be taking more than 2 shots at an animal. b) There won't be any permanent damage at that few shots.

WHAT?!?!

ONE shot can cause permanent hearing damage

Your brain cannot shot out damaging sounds waves when your ears are not protected - whether the adrenalin prevents momentary pain does NOT preclude that damage doesn't occur. Even wearing only plugs can still leave you with hearing damage from external sounds waves that are transmitted through the mastoid area to your middle and inner ear

Your information is not only incorrect, it is blatantly wrong and ill-advised to be followed by anyone intent on preventing hearing loss

 

[Double Naught Spy]

When I hunt I don't wear hearing protection. When you pull the trigger on a shot at game, you won't hear the shot anyway......chris3

I do and have and don't like it. After the shot, I didn't hear some things as well, that is for certain.

If you're worried about hearing loss/damage while "HUNTING", where at the most, you'll fire 2 shots, "Unless you really suck", then maybe you should find a new hobby/sport.

What in the world is wrong with remaining safe and healthy? Just because you are willing to risk your hearing does not mean it is a good idea to suggest other people do the same or the chastise and to suggest hunting isn't for them. Suggesting that folks who want to remain safe and healthy during hunting maybe should find another hobby/sport is ridiculous.

Heck, I bet some folks even wear hunter orange and safety glasses even when not required by law. Maybe they should choose another hobby/sport as well?

 

[Prince Yamato]

Can you use a silencer when you hunt? If yes, then problem solved.

 

[Gary O]

on a 30-06? doubt it...

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

The average gun fires at the 110-130db range. For a singular occurrence, that is not enough to do any permanent damage. That's usually in the 200db range. However, constant exposure to the 110-130 is another issue all together. e.g. an hour at the range and shooting a couple hundred rounds.

Those are garbage numbers that you've tossed out there.

Most hunting rifles are in the 150-160db range. The pain threshold is 130db and instantaneous hearing loss can be experienced at 140db.

Your head would likely explode if you were somehow subjected to 200db.

So yes, a single rifle shot can cause hearing loss.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

In 2010 I spent about 11 days hunting with my father in law out of his cabin (he lives there full time now that he's retired). He teased me on day 1 when I wore hearing protection stating that it wouldn't do any damage. Of couse, I smiled and wore them anyway.

During the time I was up there, I noticed he would get up in the middle of the night to go the couch and watch tv to fall back asleep. He told me often he needed noise to sleep otherwise ringing in his ears would wake him up. He didn't make the connection.

 

[teumessian_fox]

A single shot shouldn't have that kind of negative affect on you.

Not so.

Facts on noise levels:
1. Decibels measure sound pressure and are logarithmic. That means that only a 3db increase almost doubles sound pressure, a 6db increase quadruples sound pressure, etc.
2. Gradual hearing loss may occur after prolonged exposure to 90 decibels or above.
3. Exposure to 100 decibels for more than 15 minutes can cause hearing loss.
4. Exposure to 110 decibels for more than a minute can cause permanent hearing loss.
5. At 140 dBA noise causes immediate injury to almost any unprotected ear.
6. There is also the more extreme ‘acoustic trauma’, which is an immediate loss of hearing after a sudden, exceptionally loud noise such as an explosion.

Comparative noise levels and length of time exposed to cause permanent damage
Jet engine taking off 140 dB Instant damage
Thunder/Ambulance siren 119 dB 3 minutes
Hammer drill 113 dB 15 minutes
Chain saw/Earphones/Concert 110 dB 30 minutes
Bull Dozer 105 dB 1 hour
Tractor/Power tools 96 dB 4 hour
Hairdryer/lawnmower 90 dB 8 hours


Noise levels of firearms:
.22 caliber rifle 130dB
.223, 55GR. Commercial load 18" barrel 155.5dB
.243 in 22" barrel 155.9dB
.30-30 in 20" barrel 156.0dB.
7mm Magnum in 20" barrel 157.5dB.
.308 in 24" barrel 156.2dB.
.30-06 in 24" barrel 158.5dB. In 18" barrel 163.2dB.
.375 18" barrel with muzzle brake 170 dB.
.410 Bore 28" barrel 150dB. 26" barrel 150.25dB. 18" barrel 156.30dB.
20 Gauge 28" barrel 152.50dB. 22" barrel 154.75dB.
12 Gauge 28" barrel 151.50dB. 26" barrel 156.10dB. 18" barrel 161.50dB.
.25 ACP 155.0 dB.
.32 LONG 152.4 dB.
.32 ACP 153.5 dB.
.380 157.7 dB.
9mm 159.8 dB.
.38 S&W 153.5 dB.
.38 Spl 156.3 dB.
.357 Magnum 164.3 dB.
.41 Magnum 163.2 dB.
.44 Spl 155.9 dB.
.45 ACP 157.0 dB.
.45 COLT 154.7 dB.

Properly fitted earplugs or muffs reduce noise 15 to 30 dB. The better earplugs and muffs are approximately equal in sound reductions, although earplugs are better for low frequency noise and earmuffs for high frequency noise.

Using muffs and plugs together: Take the higher of the two and add 5 dB. 30 plug with 20 muff gives an effective NRR of 35.

If you are shooting by yourself, with plugs and muffs on, you get to shoot up to a thousand rounds without damage (louder ammo/gun and the allowable drops by a factor of 5). Shoot with other people and you have to add all the rounds shot cumulatively (10 people shoot 100 rounds and everybody's done for the day; toss a handcannon or 30 cal rifle in and you're back down to 200 rounds cumulative). If you shoot on an indoor range then all the rounds fired while you are on the range go into your total. So you can see that it doesn't take very long on a range to have a thousand rounds popped off around you.

Don't forget about bone conduction of concusive sound waves. The mastoid bone will transmit the sound vibrations directly to your inner ear where the cochela and the hearing nerves resides. Constant exposure to this kind of concusive sound wave, (e.g. 50 BMG, industrial heavy machinery) will result in the degradation of your hearing quality. Even with ear muffs, bone conduction is a big factor in hearing.

 

[Frozen North]

I am guessing that the rifles used on African game honk a bit louder that your average .270....

 

[christcorp]

No one is stopping any of you from wearing headphones or plugs when you're hunting. Simply saying; don't over react and be so melodramatic. We're not comparing an hour at the range. And can a single rifle shot cause damage? Technically, yes. So can playing a game of touch football on a saturday afternoon without a helmet and pads. I suppose that police officers should also put on hearing protection before they enter any situation where they might pull their weapon. And don't forget to go to sleep each night with your headphones or ear plugs in. Just in case someone breaks in and you need to pull your weapon on them. Unless of course you can't hear them in your house.

Wear headphones or plugs if you want. No one's stopping anyone. Just don't be so melodramatic about it.

 

[Gary O]

Getting to be sorry I asked. Happens a lot at this site lately...

 

[TexAg]

No one is being melodramatic, they are just concerned about protecting a major sense. If one of your parents or grandparents have suffered hearing loss you know how frustrating it can be for both you and them. My brother at 40 had hearing loss mostly due to shooting.

 

[GoF150xlt]

Good question Gary O

I have also wondered what you have. If you have the time to put on some type of hearing protection, why not? Hockey goalies didn't wear masks a long time ago. Football helmets have evolved to better protect players. No reason to not use scientific fact and better equipment. Why risk your hearing and suffer life long hearing loss when you don't have to?