Hearing enhancement/protection ??

trappertodd

trappertodd

New member
Do any of you guys use these devices while out hunting? I have seen some comercials and the idea sounds good. I would like to save my hearing but i cant see myself going hunting with ear plugs in. The muzzel blast from my .338mag is enough to make my ears ring all day. Just curious as to some input from who ever has had exsperince with these products.

Thanks
TrapperTodd
 
If I could afford some of the electronic earplugs ($650-900), I'd use them as I suffer from tinnitis now, but my standard earplugs fit so tight that I can't hear a range officer's command and ear muffs get too hot and my ears start sweating.
If I'm on a range I wear them, but hunting, no. I want to hear if another hunter is making a noise while I'm on a stand.
 
I've used electronic earmuffs for several years and have gotten used to them to the point where I don't think about it. Tinnitus was the reason I got starter.

I also have electronic earplugs that are ridiculously expensive but a worse choice in the field. They use more batteries (i.e. dies on you more often), the soundquality is worse, they cannot be easily taken on and off to get "real-life hearing" instantly when that is desired, and they have an individual power control that makes it hard to get a realistic balance of sound between the ears. Four times the price, not worth a quarter of the muffs!
 
I've used the Sonic II earplugs for a few years now. They allow you to hear normal sounds, although a bit muffled, but reduce loud sounds like shots or even a loud clap of the hands. They do get a little uncomfortable after wearing too long, but I like them and have even used them at the shooting range. The other good thing is that they're only around $10.00!
 
I bought a set of walker's game ear "quad muffs" for my boy after an incident which left him with ringing ears for a week or so. He now wears them at all times when calling, and the only complaints he has are it makes his ears sweat sometimes, and it can get fairly annoying when the flies buzz around the microphones. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Other than that, they work great, and give pretty good directional hearing. They can also amplify sounds pretty well too.

I think they ran about $200. Worth every penny in my opinion since they don't detract from the calling experience for him, and do protect his ears.
 
I've been hunting with SportEars for a couple years now, great hearing enhancement yet they protect your hearing too. They're expensive, but worth it to me, hearing can't be replaced or repaired once you loose it.
 
I use Walker's Game Ear and like it except for the fact that I can't tell what direction something is coming, but at least I can hear it.
 
I use the Radian ear plug/enhancers. Less than $100 for a pair, as I remember, from Cabellas.

They have the problems stated above, they were a pain to initially set up for volume, frequency, etc., and battery life is an ongoing concern, but they work well in the field.

I generally wear electronic muffs at the range. They work a little better at muffling gunshots, but become very uncomfortable after awhile. They will leave bruises behind my ears if I wear them too long.
 
I use Peltor Electronic I got on Ebay last year for about 50-60 bucks. I really like em. I use them for range time and hunting. My buddy gritter_gitter has a pair and doesnt go out without them. I know cabellas has them for about $60. I have not had the battery run out on them and use them almost every weekend. For the last year. I really cant say enough good things about them. For the money you cant go wrong you only have one set of ears and you cannot replace your hearing.Take care of what you have.
Mike
 
"hearing can't be replaced or repaired once you loose it."

Isn't that exactly what the sport ear does???? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Just messin'with ya!


I hunt with my father-in-law quite a bit, he has a fair amount of hearing loss from too many burst ear drums while playing water polo as a kid. Anyway, not hearing well really hampers his hunting ability.
Whatever you do, protect your hearing!
 
Quote:
I bought a set of walker's game ear "quad muffs" for my boy after an incident which left him with ringing ears for a week or so. He now wears them at all times when calling, and the only complaints he has are it makes his ears sweat sometimes, and it can get fairly annoying when the flies buzz around the microphones. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Other than that, they work great, and give pretty good directional hearing. They can also amplify sounds pretty well too.

I think they ran about $200. Worth every penny in my opinion since they don't detract from the calling experience for him, and do protect his ears.




I will second the quad muffs, I too have suffered some hearing loss they enhance my hearing and protect it and in the winter they keep my ears warm. I wear mine while Bowhunting some times as long as 5 hours at a time very comfortable and yes I can tell direction
They do get a little warm in the warmer weather
 
Great post guys,

I am one of many that has hearing loss(75% in left ear) from not wearing proper hearing protection growing up and even when I knew better. I can remember shooting at a shooting range and my ears ringing so bad that it hurt, but I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to be a wuss. After years of abuse my ears finally started showing the wear from my actions. I thought my wife mumbled alot until I went and got a hearing test. Turns out she doesn’t mumble at all, and apparently I cant even hear the under your breath stuff /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

I finally broke down and got some Walker Game Ear power muff quads and they are great! I just got them in a few days ago and all I can say is WOW. They are the coolest things I have ever messed with. You can hear to your normal volume(or much more if you want) but gunshots and other loud noises are muffled to the point that it will never damage your hearing. I wish I would have had them years ago, maybe I wouldn’t say WHAT several times during a normal conversation.

I wore them around the house today to get used to them. It is amazing what I was missing. I kept saying I HEARD THAT then clapping my hands next to my ears and giggling /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

I agree with what has been said, you cant get you hearing back so the little money you spend to protect it is well worth it.

Take care,

Todd
 
Wife: Your watch is going off...again!!!

She's in another room and can hear my watch alarm, but I can't hear in on my own dang arm!!!!
icon_redface.gif


Tim
 
Quote:

FarmerJ
Just wondering how well the walker game ear you have works? I assume you have one for each ear; are you able to tell where sounds are coming from? It looks as those are molded for just your ear, where did you get that done?



Hope you don't mind, but I will answer this here.

I have listened to deer come in on a no wind day from 150 yards out. Squirrels are LOUD in the trees. My wife and I have a pair each and we can have a conversation with whispers from 5-10 feet away.

One thing I did first, was to only buy one Game Ear. Boy, talk about dizzy, headaches and what not. Try plugging one ear for a day and see what happens. Talking with our daughters audiologist, (tubes) it was because the body was trying to accommodate the unequal hearing. Once we went to two each, no more problem.

Our plugs were made by our daughters audiologist. Mine are camo because I use them at guards too. I have had them in for periods of 20+ hours at times.
m14_cheek.jpg


They are still comfortable to wear even with glasses or even goggles. If I where my kevlar from guards, they really help one hear things better as well as direction.

I learned really quick, on a windy day, they were horrible. The wind just HOWLED across them. one night watching the news I saw how one reporter had a sponge on the mic and another didn't. Made a big difference. That is what the fuzz is for on the original post. A piece of polar fleece I superglued to stop the wind over the microphone.

One draw back is cost. But then again, with two daughters, what will it be worth to hear their kids call me Papa?

The GameEars here are the "Original Game Ear" They cost us $150 each. The plugs were $140 for the pair. About every other year we take them in for new sound tubes.

In the end, it was about $450 for each of us. But you can where them anywhere, anytime, even in the dead of winter under your hats, facemasks whatever.

I am glad I gave up the price of another gun for them. The wife is too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Quote:
Quote:

FarmerJ
Just wondering how well the walker game ear you have works? I assume you have one for each ear; are you able to tell where sounds are coming from? It looks as those are molded for just your ear, where did you get that done?



Hope you don't mind, but I will answer this here.

I have listened to deer come in on a no wind day from 150 yards out. Squirrels are LOUD in the trees. My wife and I have a pair each and we can have a conversation with whispers from 5-10 feet away.

One thing I did first, was to only buy one Game Ear. Boy, talk about dizzy, headaches and what not. Try plugging one ear for a day and see what happens. Talking with our daughters audiologist, (tubes) it was because the body was trying to accommodate the unequal hearing. Once we went to two each, no more problem.

Our plugs were made by our daughters audiologist. Mine are camo because I use them at guards too. I have had them in for periods of 20+ hours at times.
m14_cheek.jpg


They are still comfortable to wear even with glasses or even goggles. If I where my kevlar from guards, they really help one hear things better as well as direction.

I learned really quick, on a windy day, they were horrible. The wind just HOWLED across them. one night watching the news I saw how one reporter had a sponge on the mic and another didn't. Made a big difference. That is what the fuzz is for on the original post. A piece of polar fleece I superglued to stop the wind over the microphone.

One draw back is cost. But then again, with two daughters, what will it be worth to hear their kids call me Papa?

The GameEars here are the "Original Game Ear" They cost us $150 each. The plugs were $140 for the pair. About every other year we take them in for new sound tubes.

In the end, it was about $450 for each of us. But you can where them anywhere, anytime, even in the dead of winter under your hats, facemasks whatever.

I am glad I gave up the price of another gun for them. The wife is too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif



Thanks for the response FarmerJ, I will be looking into a pair of those in the near future.
 
Well thanks for all of you guys shareing your exspirence with me . I think im leaning towards the muff style , seeing how most of the calling and big game hunting i do is usaly in pretty cold weather and i wouldent have to wory about them getting too hot. Seems that there are a couple of you guys that realy like those game ear quad muffs and they might be the right one for me. Is there any other manufacturers out there that can compete with walkers or is that the top of the line?

Thanks Again
TrapperTodd
 
go with the in the canal. For field work they are the best.
Sportears by Harris Quest work best for me. I have the basic model which is straight amplification (works well for deer and turkey). I also have the programable custom fit model which I use for bird hunting and walking. I have had nothing but positive experieinces with these guys. www.harrisquest.com
 
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