I wear earplugs while riding on the ATV. Makes is quieter while driving. While walking/sitting, I'll have them loose inside the ear (they're connected to a a string that put over my head/under my hat or toque which keeps them from falling out and getting lost). This way I can still hear (although my hearing has decreased from shooting without earplugs when I was younger) and just press them in if I'm going to shoot. I also went to 30.06 from .300 cause I was tired of the KAAAAAA BOOOOM!
While hunting i wear the Howard Leight Impact Sport with Sound Amplification. I turn up the volume and can hear movement in the bush much better than normal and they also keep my ears warm. I can hear my hunting partner whisper from 20' clearly. They give decent protection for a single shot outdoors.
When I am at the range, i wear the Howard lights and add Radians CEP001-0 Custom Molded Earplugs. I can hear the range master and also have really solid protection from multiple shots.
I once shot a 300 win. mag. while hunting without protection and my ears rang for the entire day.
Last edited by Banker; 02-29-2020 at 10:29 AM.
The only time that I wear hearing protection is while waterfowl hunting in a blind with others, I wear Walker Game Ears muffs. I don't wear any while big game hunting, I can only think of a handful of times that the report from a big game hunting rifle bothered me. I mostly hunt with a 300 win mag. Come to think of it, the only times that the report bothered me is when I'm delivering the coup de grace at close range. Should maybe think of having some protection for that instance.
Whether you think it does or doesnèt bother you, every shot from any firearm, without hearing protection will bother your ears and damage your hearing for life, just as bad as the idiots that drive around in there cars with windows up. music blaring !! I have been wearing hearing aids for close to 38 + years now because the sawmill that I work at in the early 70,s did not supply the right hearing protection !! Now with out hearing aids, Ièm legally deaf. It sure puts a damper on day to day life !!! Take care of your hearing, once gone it never returns !!!
There are some ear muffs I use for target shooting. They amplify anything below a certain decibel range and mute anything above that range. Basically making it so you can hear a grouse in the grass, but as soon as you pull the trigger all goes quiet. Pretty handy for days when your shooting birds, squirrel, rabbits where you’re taking multiple shots.