Hearing Protection

[AF-1984]

Over the past few years, my ears tend to ring more often and for longer periods during the hunting season. I figured I should probably attempt to protect the hearing I still have.

Does anyone have any specific recommendations for hearing protection while duck hunting? I do want to be able to talk/listen with buddies while hunting, so a complete muffle is not an option for me.

I have been meaning to take care of this since last years hunting season, but I wait until the last minute...what gives?

[Feathers Rainin]

I would suggest going to an audiologist to get the plugs molded to your ear. Buy the protection that allows soft noises in but muffles loud noises. There are a lot of options out there. I purchased Westone's Hunter Passive. I think it cost like $160 for the fitting and the plugs. I can still hear my buddies talk, the jets of wings, etc. I have bought cheapies that use the same concept/design but I could not get them to stay in my ear.

I wanted to get the electronic ones that muffled the loud sounds and amplified the soft sounds. After doing some research I realized the GOOD ones are way out of my price range. The less expensive electronic ones like Walker game ears had a lot of poor reviews and I know a few people who tried them that were not impressed.

[walleyeking19]

I had the same problem as you did. All I did to fix it was to get some of those cheap foam ear plugs you just roll up into your ear. They don't silence everything but it's enough to keep your ear from ringing when you're done shooting!

[TylerS]

I bought a $50 pair of electronic earmuffs recently. They're a bit bulky, but they don't hinder my shooting and I can hear everything with them on that I can without.

[HNTNBUX]

I have the Westones as well and would go get another pair if I ever lost the ones I have.

[BoxMN]

I got some Howard Leight (sp?) electronic muffs. I have only shot with them once so far, and they seem to work. I also used them bow hunting once, just to see how the amplification works. Turned up high it almost works too well the deer eating acorns from 30 yards away sounded like high school football players woofing down pizza during an eating contest, haha!

You can hear everything, and even things you can't with regular ears.

I also found them slim (this model) so not a problem shooting, comfortable, or at least not uncomfortable, and can easily wear them over a baseball hat.

Will still have to see how they work in a duck blind situation, but I know that having conversation will be easier, or if you don't want to listen to your partner you can turn the volume down! ha! That might come in handy

About $50 if I recall. Got good reviews, especially from a sound engineer/hunter, who seemed to know his stuff. Though maybe an employee, who knows.... worked on me!

[Jack Asche]

I've played with cheap hearing protection a little bit and I've actually been surprised at how much I could hear even with the cheapest foam plugs that tend to have some of the highest noise reduction ratings, so I would suggest trying the cheap disposables right away - what do you have to lose? About 10 minutes if you decide they block too much noise.

I've found the Peltor "Combat Arms" plugs to be the best combination of comfort, letting some noise in, and blocking gunfire.

[AF-1984]

Thanks for the replies, especially regarding the Howard Leight and Combats.

My plan is to try the Combats, as they are less than $20. If those don't work, I am going to try Surefire Sonic Defenders, as I have a good review from a close friend, and are also less than $20.

If those options fail, I will try the Howard Leights, as they are affordable and have good reviews.

[Jmnhunter]

i've had to use hearing protection for the last 5 years or so because i have constant ringing, it kind of sucks, especially deer hunting but its worth it. I started off using the combats but they kept falling out while wearing a hat, and switched to the surefires as they are very comfortable and work awesome, they make a variety of surefires, and love them all. Just keep cleaning them and they should last 2 years or so as they they get alittle dry by then.