Hearing Protection while stalking
- Thread starter Terrydeer
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TringSaint
Well-Known Member
Nothing. I only use ear defenders on the range.
baguio
Well-Known Member
Anything is better than nothing. The electronic ones allow you to turn the volume up. I wear Cens digital when in a high seat but nothing when foot stalking unless there’s hardly any wind. The wind does tend to cause a lot of white noise. I wish I had worn something 30 odd years ago.
Asking around over the last few years, I have found far more shooters with hearing loss than not. Speaking to them (and including myself), the vast majority did not use hearing protection in their youth and now very much regret that decision.
My advice............Use hearing protection!
But a decent set of in-ear models if cans get in the way.
My advice............Use hearing protection!
But a decent set of in-ear models if cans get in the way.
RescueMe0007
Well-Known Member
Currently, due to stupidity and having been exposed to a fair bit of gun fire and artillery fire in my youth, I need to wear double hearing protection, especially at the range. I advocate both ear plugs and ear defenders at the same time. Any hearing loss is potentially permanent, it really affects one socially as one grows older.
Crazy not to really. Even some rolled up tissue paper helps if you don’t have anything , but cheap passive in ears really are better than nothing regardless of good moderator. Once any sort of deterioration with hearing is gone you can’t ever get it back! It’s also an incredibly powerful sense. The human ear can detect movement at less than one degree of movement. I think that deserves some respect to look after it.
You do not know what you do not know. My father never wore any hearing protection. I copied him. I always used to shoot without hearing protection, because it was more comfortable not to do so. I was sure it didn't matter. Besides which, I was only firing a few shots, and that was spread out over a reasonable time period. My hearing is now very poor, and affecting my quality of life. Now, I always use hearing protection, whatever I am doing and no matter how few shots I may fire. It is too late for me, and I suspect, for many others of my age on this forum. Be wise and learn from the mistakes of fools ! ALWAYS use hearing protection.
glasshalffull
Well-Known Member
WHAT'D YOU SAY?!?!
I use a tight fitting fleece beanie when stalking which offers some protection, surely?
I use a tight fitting fleece beanie when stalking which offers some protection, surely?
It does…and I do the same, it was mentioned in a roofless magazine article and a fleece hat does indeed reduce noise.WHAT'D YOU SAY?!?!
I use a tight fitting fleece beanie when stalking which offers some protection, surely?
TringSaint
Well-Known Member
Shooting is the only time that my tinnitus (which was caused by a virus and not over exposure to loud noises) doesn’t hack me off!!
Couple of bangs and the ringing subsides for a few minutes.
Couple of bangs and the ringing subsides for a few minutes.
caorach
Well-Known Member
Do you use a moderator? On many rifles with a good moderator the SPL should be below the level at which it causes "instant" damage and so damage will be related to "dose" and because the shot is of such short duration so the dose will be relatively low.
When taking a few shots, such as while stalking, then you may be safe with a moderator.
In terms of hearing protection then different people like different things but I'm going to suggest that getting good hearing protection that works well when stalking may be difficult as I certainly find it helpful to be able to hear what's going on around me and the various electronic hearing protection can be prone to wind noise, or may not be waterproof, plus some types can be a pain to wear while stalking.
When taking a few shots, such as while stalking, then you may be safe with a moderator.
In terms of hearing protection then different people like different things but I'm going to suggest that getting good hearing protection that works well when stalking may be difficult as I certainly find it helpful to be able to hear what's going on around me and the various electronic hearing protection can be prone to wind noise, or may not be waterproof, plus some types can be a pain to wear while stalking.
Sitting in the beaters/sheep trailer yesterday I was appalled that I couldn’t hear a bloody thing clearly. I had to move up to the open tail to engage in any conversation. We don’t allow anyone to shoot without hearing protection now and have done so for some years. I wish that had been in force 30 years ago.
glasshalffull
Well-Known Member
Is going a bit deaf really that bad a thing?
Yes. Annoying and socially isolating.
I've had hearing loss and tinnitus since my twenties. Double hearing aids at 50. They help but still difficult to be part of a multi person conversation.
Easily avoided with moderators and modern electronic earplugs/defenders.
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Deerhunter22
Well-Known Member
Was out on my first pheasant shoot yesterday and on one of the drives the line of folk was spread over two hills with wind the whistle wouldn’t be loud enough so a shot from the gun would be fired to signal the start. Two mates either side had there ear defenders in so they had and excuse but I was born with slight deafness and didn’t take ear defenders yesterday ( don’t really have any) Anyways we never heard the shot and so the drive was done before we started 
Basically I was an idiot because being already hard of hearing and not taking ear defenders with me defo got me thinking about my hearing and the future so I think it’s important to get something properly sorted and get something that’s comfortable to use.
I’ve never bothered with ear plugs whilst on the deer because you take a shot and that’s it.
On the shotgun it’s multiple with multiple more going off around you.
So ear defenders are definitely on my to buy list
Basically I was an idiot because being already hard of hearing and not taking ear defenders with me defo got me thinking about my hearing and the future so I think it’s important to get something properly sorted and get something that’s comfortable to use.
I’ve never bothered with ear plugs whilst on the deer because you take a shot and that’s it.
On the shotgun it’s multiple with multiple more going off around you.
So ear defenders are definitely on my to buy list
Deerhunter22
Well-Known Member
Having had a build up of earwax, compacted by ear plugs, which effectively resulted in a loss of hearing, the difference when the wax was removed was shocking.
I had thought that my loss of hearing was pretty much all down to years of shooting.
It totally confirmed that spending money on, and using, good hearing protection is worth every penny.
Custom moulded earplugs for stalking. Just pop them in and forget about them. Same whether I'm using my modded .243 or my unmoderated .270
Zeroing, I wear earmuffs over the plugs.
On two occasions in the past I've fired a significant number of shots in quick succession with insufficient hearing protection. After the first time, the ringing in my ears went away after a few days. After the 2nd time the ringing never went away.
Zeroing, I wear earmuffs over the plugs.
On two occasions in the past I've fired a significant number of shots in quick succession with insufficient hearing protection. After the first time, the ringing in my ears went away after a few days. After the 2nd time the ringing never went away.
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