Exposure to firearm noise has created a market for hundreds of different ear protection gadgets, but many of these are still not worn by hunters. Recreational firearm noise exposure is a serious problem that affects many hunters, who don’t realize symptoms until later on in life. Hunters love their guns, and anyone who works around firearms knows the thrill of firing a gun. However, exposure to noise greater than 140 dB can permanently damage hearing. Big bore rifles and pistols can actually create sounds over 175 dB, and a small .22 caliber rifle can produce noise at 140 dB. Hunters must use ear protection if they want to prevent ear damage, and there are some traditional and new gadgets out there that work best.
My father was a hunter for many years. As a child I can remember helping him pack up all of his gear the night before a hunt. He would have all of his guns, ammunition, camouflage, and callers. I was always so excited to help him pack the truck up, but looking back on it, I don’t even recall him bringing hearing protection with him on his trips. My father often when out on hunts or at the range did not pay much attention to his hearing protection and now many years later he is paying the price for it. Affected severely by hearing loss, he now wears a hearing aid in each ear to help him hear more clearly. In order to prevent hearing loss from hunting and to ensure healthy hearing for the future it is a must to always have your hearing protection on when firing a gun.
For many hunters, the easiest choice is the earplug. A set of earplugs placed into the inner ear can block out most firearm exposure. They are lightweight, compact and fit easily into the pocket, making them an essential ear protection to have. However, are they the best line of defense? Many hunters still place themselves at risk by just wearing earplugs alone, and others choose to double ear protection with earmuffs. However, this leads to another common problem. Hunters can’t hear what’s going on around them.
The next line of defense against ear damage includes earmuffs. These are clam-shelled coverings that go over the ear and provide warmth, while also blocking out loud sounds. Hunters who wear earmuffs may double protection by putting in earplugs first but with a good set of earmuffs, you can largely protect your ears without earplugs. While earmuffs are a great way to prevent later noise induced hearing loss, it’s still not the best way to block out noise exposure.
Electronic Ear Muffs
The latest tech gadget for hunters is the electronic earmuff. Just like regular earmuffs, the electronic earmuff fits over the ears and rests just like headphones. It’s lightweight and similar in design but offers something totally different than the regular earmuffs. With electronic earmuffs, sounds over 80 dB are automatically muted, while noises under this level are amplified. This makes hunting even more enhanced and you never have to take off your ear protection in order to hear or speak to friends in the hunting party.