We all know that firing a weapon is dangerous to our hearing -- so most of us who have fired more than a few rounds have probably tried a few different types of hearing protection!
In fact, people use a whole world of different types of hearing protection to keep their ears safe while hunting and shooting. The most common type of hearing protector shooters use is probably a pair of ordinary passive earmuffs. Coming in at a close second would be foam ear plugs. Other choices on the list include electronic shooting earmuffs, many other kinds of earplugs, hunters’ hearing aids, and finally dual protection systems -- that is, wearing a pair of ear plugs under a pair of earmuffs. So, given that there are so many choices when it comes to shooting and hunting hearing protection, how do we tell which one is the right one...?
Well, it depends.
So far this hunting season, we have taken a look at how hearing damage occurs for the hunter/shooter, and we’ve gone over some hearing basics like NRR. We’ve also discussed the pro’s and con’s of NRR 33 hearing protection, and we’ve explored other important hearing protection issues, including cost, weight, isolation, and more. With a solid understanding of all these ideas at hand, you should be well-armed to make a wise decision about your hunting and shooting hearing protection.
Still, there are so many choices out there that, even with a good understanding of your options, you might need a little guidance!
So what’s the hunting hearing protection bottom line?
If you need to hear what is going on while you are shooting (and between shots), get an electronic shooting earmuff or hunters’ hearing aid. For especially great hearing capability, we recommend Pro Ears Gold Electronic Earmuffs, which are really on the cutting edge as far as electronic shooting earmuffs go.
If you do not need to hear what is going on around you, get the highest rated hearing protector that (a) fits your budget, and (b) will not get in your way as you shoot. It is rare that we can disregard all sounds going on around us, but when the situation does allow that to happen safely, NRR 33 hearing protectors can be a good choice.
For high caliber shooting, and especially for intensive practice, use a dual-protection system: wear a pair of earplugs under a pair of earmuffs. The earmuffs can be passive earmuffs or electronic shooting earmuffs. The double protection won’t double your NRR, but it will ensure you’re getting the absolute maximum protection possible, when and where it's needed most.
And no matter what you are shooting or what ear protection you are wearing, pay attention to how the sound makes your ears feel! If your ears hurt or ring or the sound seems very loud when a gun is fired, stop shooting until you can get some better ear protection in place. And don’t forget about the shooters around you. Their gunfire noise can hurt you just as much as yours can.
Ultimately, just remember the golden rule of hearing protection: If it seems too loud to you, no matter what hearing protector you are using, get away from the noise!
We sincerely hope these bottom-line recommendations for hunting hearing protection will help you keep your ears safe and sound (no pun intended...) this hunting season. And as always, if you have questions, comments, suggestions, or just need some personalized help figuring out which hearing protector is perfect for your unique hearing needs, drop us a line at [email protected] -- we are here to help!
Good hunting, good hearing, and be safe and do the right thing.
--Tom "Dr. Earplug" Bergman
our hearing is very important and so we must take good care of it and protect it at any cost. Using an ear plug is one way to protect our hearing from too loud noises.
Posted by: ear defenders | 10/15/2011 at 02:56 AM
Ear plugs are definitely one solution. And though there are high-dollar hunters' earmuffs out there, if those are out of your price range (or you don't hunt frequently), taking along a pair of plain old foam ear plugs in your pocket is a whole lot better than no hearing protection at all. Thanks for reading!
Posted by: Tom "Dr. Earplug" Bergman | 10/16/2011 at 05:36 PM