Hearing protection?

[nate larson]

Just curious to know how many guys out there wear some sort of hearing protection? I have tried ear plugs in the past but they have either been too uncomfortable or I have felt like I am not able to hear the ducks and geese around me. I know they make some electronic ones that block the shotgun blast but allow you to hear normal noises...the only problem is that they cost a lot of money! How many guys have hearing damage already? For right handed shooters is it your left ear that has the most problems? I have been thinking about just wearing an ear plug in my left ear only.

[Cheetah]

A friend of mine has bad hearing in one ear from past duck hunting adventures, he now has a fancy set of ear plugs / dampeners or whatever the heck they are so he doesn't blow out his hearing completely. They are pricey for sure, but they cut down the loud gun blasts while still letting you hear everything else just fine.

[nate larson]

How old is your friend?

[dukhnt]

I am right handed and have ruined my hearing in my left ear. Wish I was taught from a young age to take care of my hearing. This is the first year I have used a Walkers Game Ear. I don't want to be completely deaf in my left ear so I am protecting the hearing I have left in it. It is definately worth the money to protect your hearing.

[Jmnhunter]

hey nate, i started to wear plugs out in the field since last fall; my left ear will ring for a few days if i dont (like now as a plug fell out when i started shooting)like you, i dont have extra cash to dump on hearing protection although it would be a great investment, so I opted for the cheaper set. I have been using combat arms military plugs, i did like them, but i may try something similar but a different brand. there are quite a few that advertise that you can hear conversation but dampens the blast of guns. I'm leaning towards these next SportPlugz

[superhawk16]

check out the pro ears gold stalker...they are spendy but they are the real deal. I am ordering a pair in the next few weeks. I was able to demo a pair and they are awesome...cut gun noise WAY down but also amplify all the other noises around. Much better than anything out there right now IMO.

~only thing I've yet to try them is in the wind...anybody out there have any experience with that at all?

[no bait nate]

i bought a pair of Walkers Game Ear Muffs. The are expensive but with all the shooting i do (ducks, geese, trap range, and sighting in black powder) the are definitely worth the price. I am only 22 and have a lot of hearing left to do in my lifetime so I'm all for them. I do not wear them all the time but the pay off big time when I'm waterfowling with buddies and there are four guys laying the hammer down at the same time. The also enhance everything you hear in the field. For trap they are awesome when the shooter is placed far away from the throwers to communicate, this way you can have more real-time shooting situations. Only downfall is the shooter hearing all the smack talk from the throwers when it's not going good for him. Just think if you lose your hearing you'll have to miss that awesome sound of woodies buzzing over top before daylight.

[SmilinBob]

I had a pair of the injected fit ones made at the Gamefair, they fit great since they are molded to me, feel good and were really reasonable. I wear them a lot in my line of work, a lot of shooting, and I like them.

[nate larson]

Thanks for the info guys. Those sportplugz look like they might be worth a try. Hey SmilinBob, what company did you get yours from at the Game Fair?

[RIPN LIPS]

HUH!!!!!

[RIPN LIPS]

SMILINBOB DO YOU REMEBER THE NAME OF THAT COMPANY?

[SmilinBob]

It was Matrics located in Osseo. e-mail me and I will get you their contact info. chris at keelersgunsmithing dot com