Snapshot Report post Posted August 9, 2014 My rifle has a muzzle brake. Pretty hard on the ears. I have a pair of Silencio ear plugs that I carry with me, and put in if I have the time. They are filled with some sort of gel that mold nicely to the contours of the inner ear. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted August 10, 2014 I think everyone should use hearing protection whenever they can. With coues hunting, you generally have plenty of time to put in ear plugs. I used to not worry about it, but I wised up and at one of the hunting shows years ago I had some custom formed ear plugs made for me. They just stay in my pack until I need them. I have seen other people use those orange ones that just stay around your neck so they are ready at a moments notice. Mine have a string connecting them so I can have them around my neck and ready if need be. For turkey hunting, I use Walker's Game ear muffs. That way I can hear the turkeys coming, but as soon as I shoot, then muffs silence the sound and protect your hearing. Those have worked great. You can see that I wore them on my turkey hunt in Mexico. Look at 4:34 minutes or so you can see me taking them off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yeti-az Report post Posted August 11, 2014 My hearing has been affected from years of shooting without protection. I now try to have hearing protection anytime I shoot. I use muffs at the range and the foam plugs on a string while i'm in the field. Unless I have to take a quick shot, I put my plugs in before shooting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NOTAGS Report post Posted August 11, 2014 I had a brake on my 7mag, and had always managed to put plugs in before shooting.., until last fall when I jumped a buck in thick stuff and had a split second to shoot. My left ears has been ringing for the last 9 months, and I dont expect it to go away. The brake is now off my rifle, but the damage is done. I wish I had let the deer walk, I can always kill another deer, but will never get my hearing back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZbowhntr Report post Posted August 12, 2014 My rifles have muzzle brakes on them so I always wear plugs. I accidentally shot without them once while doing some practicing. It reminded me of a concussion grenade going off. I literally had to sit there for a minute to get my bearings. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PelaPapas Report post Posted August 15, 2014 I've never used any on hunts. Ear pro only at the range. I think I might have to consider using some on hunts but may interfere with communicating with the spotter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WinMag Report post Posted August 16, 2014 EAR brand Chameleon Acoustical ear plugs. As a safety manager in mining at work I push hearing protection all the time, I would not feel right if I did not follow my own advice. I use the brand and style listed above which lets in any sound up 85db and reduces anything above down to 85db. I can also plug my hunt radio into them to listen if my partner calls me on the radio and still hear all outside noise at safe levels. I use them all the time for hunting. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
6ANut Report post Posted August 16, 2014 What I can't hear you? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Juniors Report post Posted August 16, 2014 EAR Inc for me. Can communicate as well as have enhanced hearing and be protected at all times in case of a "oh SH-T, gotta shoot now" moment. I can wear them all day hunting and be completely comfortable. I still carry a few cheap foam ones in the pack for friends or if I lose my electronic ones. The foam works just fine for protection. Heck, I even put them in when I'm shooting with my suppressor attached. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Swivelhead Report post Posted August 31, 2014 Shot a lot without hearing protection when I was young. I am a tradesman, literally everything around a tradesman is noisy all the time. My hearing was OK through most of it although I wore protection intermittently. As I approach old age my hearing degrades annually. Tinnitus is present at all times (sometimes it literally roars). Protect yourselves or you'll pay the price later in life. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bojangles Report post Posted September 1, 2014 i recently had a brake put on my gun. my range finder failed me on my last elk hunt, i held high and let her fly. 6 shots later, the elk was still standing there and my ears rang for a month. (i was way off on my yardage guestimate, so i wasn't even close to hitting him) i have permanent loss, i'm afraid, from that incident. what'sworse, i went in there the next morning and shot said elk three times untill he wasn't moving any more. (this time, i was on the money, as i borrowed a range finder) so i took 9 shots w/out hearing protection. big mistake. will never do that again. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
