Hearing protection when hunting

[Patrol66]

Depends what where shooting at the time. Rimfire - no ear protection in the field, at the range - yes.

Centre fire - ear plugs for the shooter and I plug my ears at the last moment before the shot.

If I'm holding a torch I will wear one ear plug and cover the other ear after the all clear to fire. I have only hunted with my son so far and that is generally what we do. Also helps if you can communicate with hand signals.

When I go solo I will prob try the last min approach or put them in when I close in on a likely looking spot.

[FuzzyM]

Don't bother with my .22, usually use subs.
I bought some electronic earmuffs for .22 practice or hunting with louder stuff.

[Lorgar]

Never with the .22. I'm never shooting any high velocity stuff though which are significantly louder. If I was shooting stingers or something I would be wearing the earmuffs.

For the hunting rifle, if I'm stalking for deer by myself I don't wear the earmuffs because I'll either not fire a shot or fire 1-2 max. Not advising this as safe for your ears but it's the way it is for me. Would rather have the awareness and live with possibly absorbing one shot.

If moving with my regular mates, we make sure to keep a good distance between us so if someone takes a shot before the other realises there is a target no one is standing uncomfortably close to the muzzle.

(At the range always for anything)

[bigfellascott]

I don't wear any whilst hunting. Load testing etc where lots of shots are taken I wear electronic ones or foam push in jobs.

[tom604]

the ear plugs on the plastic strap when hunting ,easy to put in before shooting, pal electronic ear muffs at the range

[mausermate]

what?

[tom604]

I SAID THAT,,,oh i see what you did there

[RoginaJack]

WHAT?? tom64 did you say, EH? LOL

Cheers,

[bigfellascott]

I bloody needed hearing protection today, I shot a bunny out of the passenger side window and didn't have the muzzle out the window and man did it hurt the ears! LOL all good now, but from now on I will make sure I have the muffs on when doing that sort of thing again.

[wrenchman]

My son wears them when he is shooting or hunting, he is hearing impaired and has pain if he doesn't. Even with the .22.

They look just like his aids he wears most the time and they take the same batteries.

[Seconds]

I shot a bunny out of the passenger side window and didn't have the muzzle out the window and man did it hurt the ears!

I know I shouldn't, but I couldn't help smile at reading that

[bigfellascott]

I shot a bunny out of the passenger side window and didn't have the muzzle out the window and man did it hurt the ears!

I know I shouldn't, but I couldn't help smile at reading that

I might need a longer barrel to make it out the passenger window hey! shooting a rifle inside the cab whilst the muzzle isn't outside isn't a good idea as I discovered!

[Westy]

I just put my fingers in my ears then I have a good excuse for missing!!!!

[5Tom]

No ear protection.

When your at the range, there is excessive noise and warrants protection. Likewise, if your under shelter or near walls where the sound can bounce back at you.

When your out in the field, the noise isn't as bad as it travels away from you.

Different story if you or your hunting buddy has a muzzle brake.

[Westy]

No ear protection.
When your at the range, there is excessive noise and warrants protection. Likewise, if your under shelter or near walls where the sound can bounce back at you. When your out in the field, the noise isn't as bad as it travels away from you. Different story if you or your hunting buddy has a muzzle brake.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Muzzle brakes are for Self opiated Selfish Wankers!!!Did I tell you I have one!!!!!!!!

[Monty]

I just put my fingers in my ears then I have a good excuse for missing!!!!

So then.... With fingers in both your ears your rifle is on the floor?

[Sender]

Different story if you or your hunting buddy has a muzzle brake.

The one guy in a hunting party with a muzzle brake is always the popular one

[Die Judicii]

I shot a bunny out of the passenger side window and didn't have the muzzle out the window and man did it hurt the ears!

I know I shouldn't, but I couldn't help smile at reading that

One experience (bad) that I had, was when a friend and I were getting ready to go shooting.
Friend spotted a bunny squatting under a bush approx. 200 metres away.
He said, "Bet you can't clobber him from here".
That was like the red rag to the bull.
I leant across the tray of his ute with the 22/250, lined him up and squeezed. *Note; No hearing protection as it was only gonna be one shot.

What I failed to take into account was,,, He had a steel sided dog crate across the rear end on my right, and the steel head board was on my left.
Talk about a double whammy.

Anyway, whilst talking about hearing protection, how about this that I was told just recently on another forum.
A fella from Scotland told me that OH&S is taken so seriously nowadays, that the equivalent of the F/Arms branch over there, quite often ask registered F/Arm owners if they want the classification that enables ownership of a Moderator / Silencer.

Lucky Bugg*rs

[bigfellascott]

Yeah it don't half hurt the ears when something like that happens! Those Scots have got the right idea, unfortunately we are governed by F@#$wits who really have SFA idea of the real world, all their knowledge comes from moves and newspapers and TV new reporters, completely clueless the lot of em.

[Hennie Dreyer]

I do not believe that not wearing any prot is going to make any difference whatsoever whilst hunting.

For culling purposes yes, and target shooting.

How many shots do you fire whilst hunting at a target and at what frequency?

Ok ok ok... see already what some of you may nail me on ..... hehehe

[Pom]

A fella from Scotland told me that OH&S is taken so seriously nowadays, that the equivalent of the F/Arms branch over there, quite often ask registered F/Arm owners if they want the classification that enables ownership of a Moderator / Silencer.

Same in NZ. Suppressors over there are an OH&S issue (amazingly not a terrorist accessory for assassinating politicians like people here seem to think).

I've read some ranges there actually require them in fact.

[squirrelhunter]

How many shots do you fire whilst hunting at a target and at what frequency?

I fire 2-3 then realise my ears are hurting and put the muffs back on