Do you guys wear ear plugs while hunting?

[Vagabond]

I personally don't think it's a good idea especially for big games and I never wear them. One of my friends does it even for big game hunting.
My son (13 yrs old) is going to hunt with me this year. It seems that his ears are more sensitive so I am going to let him wear ear plugs. He will be within close distance to me all the time anyway so safety will not be an issue.
Any thoughts?

[sparky660]

We should be but I don't as well. To fumble around with ear plugs when and animal walks in would probably result in a lost opportunity.

[bushman300]

I would also let my son wear plugs but I prefer not to wear them while hunting for two reasons. Too often I have hear a faint crack of a twig as an elk sneaks in on me and would not have heard it if I had ear plugs in. Also I hunt in the mountains and for safety I want to hear as good as possible in case of bears etc.

[winger7mm]

For biggame I dont. BUT for feild hunting geese, thats a different story!! wish I hadnt forgot to bring ear plugs last two times I was out!!

[Lefty-Canuck]

Get a set of electronic ear muffs....they will both enhance and protect your hearing.

LC

[Kurt505]

Use the ear plugs with the plastic head set, keep them around your neck, and just use them before you shoot. You may not have time every time you shoot, but in most cases you will, it only takes a second to plug them in.

[stickflicker]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

Get a set of electronic ear muffs....they will both enhance and protect your hearing.

LC

Those sound cool!

I use my ears as much as my eyes in most hunting situations.
I wouldn't ever think of wearing earplugs while hunting.....or a blindfold.

[top predator]

Never big game hunting.

Always on the bench or sporting clay shooting.

Sometime waterfowling

[1899b]

I prefer the ear muffs that attach to my hard hat. If there is a lake within a couple miles ill throw on a life jacket as well.....

[Lr1000]

Heck no!

[rottie]

At the range,yes/ out in the field hunting / no

[Pikes"R"us]

Half deaf in my left ear so no protection there, but I usually wear one in my right ear when my brother and I our out for waterfowl. I make him wear his.

[grinr]

Never....not big game hunting,not waterfowling,not even target shooting.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by 1899b

I prefer the ear muffs that attach to my hard hat. If there is a lake within a couple miles ill throw on a life jacket as well.....

I hope you don't forget the bullet proof best and the Kevlar pants....you never know when you will be shot or need to use a chainsaw....

LC

[V_1]

Same here. No plugs, no electronic muffs. I prefer not to overload myself with electronics with no reason, and it's likely to late anyway. So range - yes, field - no; I might be very well go blindfolded.

[bosshog]

Not big game but I wear them when I go upland/waterfowl. I have a pair of custom made plugs that work 'ok' for hearing but are pretty easy to put in an out. Have looked at the electronic plugs but havent ever tried them out.

[Vagabond]

IMO safety is a big issue with ear plugs while big game hunting. I normally walk a lot in the woods and I am always wary of bears, cougers and etc. Plus it's only 1 or 2 shots for a big game hunting trip so it's no big deal to me.

[Desert Eagle]

I never used to, but... One time I shot a moose with a Braked rifle and couldn't hear for 2 days. Ever since I'm a lot more sensitive to noise. I take plugs with everywhere when im hunting, just a pair of disposable rubber with a string to go around my neck. It only takes a second to pop them in. Only 1 time in the last 3 years i wasn't able to get them in before the shot.

I can tell you that it is not worth loosing your hearing over an animal.... or to put up with ringing ears for days or weeks after firing a rifle, it only takes a second or less with practice.

[Big Daddy Badger]

Originally Posted by Pikes"R"us

Half deaf in my left ear so no protection there, but I usually wear one in my right ear when my brother and I our out for waterfowl. I make him wear his.

You do realize that being half deaf in one ear already offers no protection against further damage to hearing in that ear...right?

That ear can and will still suffer damage as a result of noise that would harm the hearing in a normal ear.

[Pikes"R"us]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy Badger

You do realize that being half deaf in one ear already offers no protection against further damage to hearing in that ear...right?

That ear can and will still suffer damage as a result of noise that would harm the hearing in a normal ear.

Yes I do understand this..... I've had hearing problems since they started inserting tubes in my ears as a child so I'm well aware of further hearing loss. I do how ever like to be able to hear birds that I can't yet see, and make sure that my calling sound is accurate. But thanks for your concern.

[Pixel Shooter]

Never big game. A couple years ago bought electronic muffs for birding. Still sitting in my bag 😁. Had good intentions.

[BackPackHunter]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

Use the ear plugs with the plastic head set, keep them around your neck, and just use them before you shoot. You may not have time every time you shoot, but in most cases you will, it only takes a second to plug them in.

X2
I use the same ones
they only take a second

[fordtruckin]

when shooting YES, when hunting NO. your system will be full of adrenalin and you will have an Auditory exclusion so you won't hear it. Anyone in Law Enforcement or the Military should understand this.

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by fordtruckin

when shooting YES, when hunting NO. your system will be full of adrenalin and you will have an Auditory exclusion so you won't hear it. Anyone in Law Enforcement or the Military should understand this.

I don't think it's the bang so much as the ringing and hearing loss caused by the concussion afterwards. The only time I would consider ear plugs is hunting out of a box blind/stand, or on the range. I don't shoot migratory. I can't imagine what it would be like to touch one off with a 30-378 equipped with a brake in a box stand, but one of my clients did and his hearing was mess up for a long time. Now he always uses plugs.

[Roughneck Country]

Tried to once as I was noticing a ringing in my ears but found it to difficult to put plugs in when it was time to shoot. I get to caught up in the moment and forgot most of the time anyway.

[a little redneck]

What?

[Venginator]

While hunting listening for game is AS important as looking for game. Just the other day I was taking my time going through some forest and I heard the odd noise not too far away. sure enough, a minute later, a buck walks by 15 yards out. Even when I take an animal, after the shot I have no ringing or downside to the blast. I think being pumped with adrenalin helps keep the ringing away... for me at least.

[CNP]

Originally Posted by a little redneck

What?

lol....................my feelings exactly. How many shots are taken while "big game hunting". If you have one tag....................how many shots do you fire at animals in a season? It's not the same as a range where sound reverberates and is intensified by any overhead structure. To each his own though. I hear supper calling....

[7mmHunter1921]

Each time I shoot without ear plugs I feel like I'm getting deafer and deafer but I use them occasionally

[Springer]

I wish i had started wearing them years ago. Once you get Tinitus from hearing loss, shooting , loud machinery whatever you will wish you had.
Its something i cant reverse now and everyday is a reminder.