Walkers Game Ear

[gd44]

I was thinking of getting the Walkers Game Ear. I would use it primarily for waterfowl and some pheasant hunting. I was wondering if anybody uses these? How well do they work? Are they work the money? I would probably purchase one of the models between $150-$250.

[Gordie]

Hey gd44 welcome to the HSO family great bunch of guys in theses forums and you will get get alot of gret info s well from them.

I personally dont use a walkers game ear but a buddy of mine uses on for deer hunting and he really likes it it does a great job of enhanceing the sound around him and shuts out the gun blast mm come to thinkl of it I might have to look into one for myself. I do sometimes wear ear plugs but I dont do it enough.

Probally not the answer your looking for but thanks for getting me to think about my hearing protection

[SledNeck]

Im definately wearing ear protection from now on. I think I lost 25% of hearing out of one ear on my trip down to arkansas. The ringing went away after a day, but its still not right.

[HNTNBUX]

I don't wear hearing enhancement but I do wear custom molded ear plugs that have a baffle in them. I can hear ducks calling, wings wistle, etc and still have the protection from muzzle blast. After using them for two years now I wish I would have bought them earlier.

[stacker12]

I've used one for 4 years in my left ear (I'm a right handed shooter). I had a custom molded plug made for it so its more comfortable. Would definitely recommend one.

[Hookmaster]

HNTNBUX,

Where did you get yours from? That sounds like something I could use.

[Gordie]

HNTNBUX,

Where did you get yours from? That sounds like something I could use.

WHAT!!

You know I was thinking the same thing.

Thanks

[SmilinBob]

I got some of those custom molded plugs made by a place called Matrics out of Osseo, they had a spot next to mine at Gamefair. I love them, can wear em for hours. earimpressions is what I searched and found the site. I also know that many trap ranges will have people come in the spring and offer deals to shooters for them.

[dukhnt]

This was my first full season using a game ear. I liked all of the things I could hear and the way it protected my ear. However it was hard at first for me to pinpoint which direction the sound was coming from. Maybe this was due to only having one in one ear. It got better as the season went on. I wish I would have used hearing protection earlier in life.

[Gordie]

Thanks guys

[ccarlson]

I have and use both styles.

I have a set of Walker quad range muffs. (By the way, unless you plan to get the game ear inserts for both ears, get the muffs, not the behind the ear style.) I use them every time I duck hunt so I can hear my partners and the ducks. They do a great job of muffling the gun blast. They are also good for deer or turkey hunting but I don't like them for pheasant hunting as they amplify the sound of walking too much (clothes rubbing, foot steps etc.). I usually just go without since you don't shoot as much while upland hunting.

I also have a set of custom molded ear plugs that have a baffle. Mine are designed as "musicians earplugs" and I use these more for things like loud concert venues, teaching drums etc. They may have saved my ears at the AC/DC concert I went to but they are not adequate for muzzle blast protection though in my opinion. You would be much more protected with the style of ear protection that completely shuts down the sound within milliseconds of the blast such as the walker range muffs. The molded ear plugs with baffles that I use are simply designed to reduce the top 10, 15 or 20 decibles, depending on baffle insert, but still allow most sounds to go through so you can still hear to a certain degree. I think I paid around $200 for my custom plugs and filters.

Unless there is a new baffle system that does more than filters sound that I am unaware of, you are kidding yourself if you think they are protecting your hearing adequately in a muzzle blast situation. If you can still hear normal sounds through them, that shows how little sound they really filter. My filters anyway, are designed to just lessen an overall sustained loud situation more so than a blast situation which is why I would recommend the range muffs for hunters more than ear plugs with filters.

I'd be interested in reading more about the baffles the others are using though.

ccarlson

[HNTNBUX]

I have not checked this topic in awhile. I have two sets that I wear, one for hunting with the baffles and another just for shooting. The ones for hunting have the baffle with a posted noise reduction of about 17 decibels. The solids have noise reduction rating of 26-29 decibels. I know that they might not be as effective as the solids but I can not hear people talking to me with the solids and have to take one out whenever someone is talking to me. If interested just search for hearing protection hunter style 39 and you should find it.

[sweept]

My son wears the Walkers Quad Muffs and loves them.