Hearing Protection for Hunting

[FrontLines]

I have the ear muffs that I use for hunting and shooting. They amplify quieter noise but block gun shots. They throw me off when calling for ducks so I pull them off one ear when calling. They are also Bluetooth which is nice.

I’d go straight to the earbud style though. Well worth the money. Walkers game ear sells them.

 

[Datchew]

Bump to refresh the thread

Any new amazing items in the $200 or less range?
Anything new so amazing that I should just buy once cry once?

 

[Tucketed]

These work well

 

[HankBuck]

Electronic noise canceling custom made earplugs.
Buy once, cry once...because you will get what you pay for.
And no price is too high to save your hearing while hunting.

@BeeMaa - agree there is great protection out there that still lets you “Hear” while wearing them - my headphones actually “enhance” my hearing while turkey hunting and only shut-off-loud noises (gun shot). I wish I had these devices when I first started hunting, because as kids, 3 of us Duck hunted together out of one boat or blind and on ‘good days’ we would shoot 2-3 boxes of shells EACH. I remember times my ears would “ring” after we all UNloaded on a flock. I got very careful with my hearing in my 30s and especially when I introduced my Son & Daughter to hunting - protecting their hearing AND mine. Even though I started wearing ear plugs while duck hunting in my 30s (started with stuffing tissue paper in them) and now Never hunt without good hearing protection since——-I still have 40% high frequency hearing loss…most of which is hereditary for me. I can’t afford to lose anymore. Any hunting with high volume shooting (ducks, doves, even rabbits = plugs or better. If muzzle loader hunting or rifle hunting alone - I will try to put plugs in just before I shoot - provided I have time or wear my Walkers Game Ear headphones.
Stuff I never did as a Kid - Never wearing life jackets or even “having” life jackets in our boat, Never wore hearing protection….Now I wouldn’t think about doing that stupid stuff again - having my own Kids made me “smarter” AND more careful.

 

[Tanks]

...

Any new amazing items in the $200 or less range?
Anything new so amazing that I should just buy once cry once?

I have a feeling those two are mutually exclusive.

 

[bohannon]

I used the surefire ep4 plugs when hunting buffalo in South Africa. They're inexpensive at $15 and use a mechanical baffle to shut off noises that exceed a certain DB. No problem hearing the PH or other noises while hunting.

 

[Rimbaud]

Re hearing aids, FYI on Otto. I bought their electronic ear plugs for about $400 online, and they gave out. Called Otto to see what was what and they told me that the batteries fail after a while if they haven't been charged. Mine were less than 2 years old. To replace the batteries, they wanted well over $100. I'd avoid these.

 

[Datchew]

I have a feeling those two are mutually exclusive.

I have the same feeling but things have come a long way in electronics in 2-3 years so I'm hopeful.

Bow hunting is so much more quiet. Lol

 

[BeeMaa]

@BeeMaa - agree there is great protection out there that still lets you “Hear” while wearing them - my headphones actually “enhance” my hearing while turkey hunting and only shut-off-loud noises (gun shot). I wish I had these devices when I first started hunting, because as kids, 3 of us Duck hunted together out of one boat or blind and on ‘good days’ we would shoot 2-3 boxes of shells EACH. I remember times my ears would “ring” after we all UNloaded on a flock. I got very careful with my hearing in my 30s and especially when I introduced my Son & Daughter to hunting - protecting their hearing AND mine. Even though I started wearing ear plugs while duck hunting in my 30s (started with stuffing tissue paper in them) and now Never hunt without good hearing protection since——-I still have 40% high frequency hearing loss…most of which is hereditary for me. I can’t afford to lose anymore. Any hunting with high volume shooting (ducks, doves, even rabbits = plugs or better. If muzzle loader hunting or rifle hunting alone - I will try to put plugs in just before I shoot - provided I have time or wear my Walkers Game Ear headphones.
Stuff I never did as a Kid - Never wearing life jackets or even “having” life jackets in our boat, Never wore hearing protection….Now I wouldn’t think about doing that stupid stuff again - having my own Kids made me “smarter” AND more careful.

I've used the Walker's and they are OK, but a big step up from these are the Sordin Supreme Pro-X. Most recently used while goose hunting in NY.

The guy doing the goose calling has a set of Walker's and I asked him to wear my Sordin's to be able to better distinguish the direction of the birds. The difference was amazing and since then, he's purchased a set of his own.

They enhance hearing like you can't believe while giving true stereo sound so you can tell where a noise is coming from. I upgraded to the gel ear pads for an even more comfortable fit. And they are still easy to use while hunting.

 

[HankBuck]

I've used the Walker's and they are OK, but a big step up from these are the Sordin Supreme Pro-X. Most recently used while goose hunting in NY.

The guy doing the goose calling has a set of Walker's and I asked him to wear my Sordin's to be able to better distinguish the direction of the birds. The difference was amazing and since then, he's purchased a set of his own.

They enhance hearing like you can't believe while giving true stereo sound so you can tell where a noise is coming from. I upgraded to the gel ear pads for an even more comfortable fit. And they are still easy to use while hunting.

View attachment 643050

@BeeMaa - I have no doubt there are much better products out there then Walkers Game Ear. While I like mine especially for Turkey Hunting - can hear a “gobble” very far away…. I can’t ever tell What Direction the sound is coming from ? The “directional hearing” on my Walkers is SO BAD that as soon as I hear a “gobble” - I take the Walkers off and work the bird with my call, then either put them back on once I see the bird or stick a plug in my ears

 

[BeeMaa]

@BeeMaa - I have no doubt there are much better products out there then Walkers Game Ear. While I like mine especially for Turkey Hunting - can hear a “gobble” very far away…. I can’t ever tell What Direction the sound is coming from ? The “directional hearing” on my Walkers is SO BAD that as soon as I hear a “gobble” - I take the Walkers off and work the bird with my call, then either put them back on once I see the bird or stick a plug in my ears

Next time I come down, I'll let you try them.