Living in New York is exciting no matter the time of year. In this beautiful state we seem to have a bit of everything, and have something for everyone, no matter the season. One of the most popular past times we can participate in is shooting and hunting. However, the noise from a gunshot can damage your ears and can even cause long term hearing damage and hearing loss. In fact, a study done at the University of Wisconsin revealed that the risk of hearing loss increases 7 percent for every five years a person hunts. Sadly the study also discovered that out of the 3,753 participants, 95 percent of hunters and 38 percent of shooter admitted that during the previous year they did not wear any hearing protection.
With hunting season right around the corner, it’s never too early to think about protecting your ears. Check out these important hunting and hearing loss tips that can help protect your precious ears this hunting season.
Use Protection
Every time you shoot or go out with other people who are shooting, make sure you wear a pair of earplugs or earmuffs to protect your sensitive ears. There are two types of protection available, passive noise protection and active hearing protection. Which one you choose is based on personal preference and price. But passive protection will muffle gunshots, as well as the sounds you want to hear. While active protection subdues the harmful noises, but still allows you to listen to the sounds of nature.
Alternate Arms
If you only shoot on one side of your body, you run a much higher risk of developing asymmetric hearing loss. Asymmetric hearing loss occurs when one ear is regularly exposed to loud noises at close range, while the other ear does not receive the same treatment. Even though you should always wear hearing protection when you are out shooting, alternating between your left and right side will expose both ears to similar noise settings.
Take Breaks
Even if you are taking the proper precautions by wearing ear protection and alternating your arms, it is imperative that you take regular breaks. Despite the level of protection your earmuffs give you, hearing loss can happen slowly over time, even when it isn’t evident at first. Long-term exposure to any loud sounds can cause temporary or permanent hearing damage. To help give your ears some time to rest, take a break in between each round. Just remember, if there are other shooters nearby, keep your hearing protection on to protect your ears.
Stay Silent
When possible, use a silencer or a gun suppressor on your firearm to reduce the volume of your shot. By using a silencer, if it is legal in your state, you can help give your ears some relief from your guns thunderous shot. However, it is important to keep in mind, while the silencer can help stabilize the loud, propellant gases that are produced when fired, using a gun suppressor does not mean that wearing ear protection is no longer necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hearing protection is crucial during hunting season because gunshots produce loud noises that can damage your ears and potentially cause long-term hearing loss. Studies have shown that the risk of hearing loss increases with the number of years spent hunting without protection. Using earplugs or earmuffs helps prevent such damage.
Passive hearing protection works by muffling all sounds, including gunshots and nature noises, while active hearing protection reduces harmful noises but still allows you to hear ambient sounds like wildlife. The choice depends on personal preference and budget, with active protection often preferred for maintaining situational awareness.
Alternating shooting arms helps prevent asymmetric hearing loss, which occurs when one ear is consistently exposed to loud noise while the other is not. By switching sides, both ears are subjected to similar noise levels, reducing the risk of uneven hearing damage over time.
Taking breaks between shooting rounds gives your ears time to rest and helps reduce the gradual hearing damage that can result from prolonged exposure to loud noises, even when wearing protection. Continuous noise exposure can lead to temporary or permanent hearing loss, so breaks are essential for ear health.
While silencers reduce the volume and harmful gases of a gunshot, they do not eliminate the need for hearing protection. Using a silencer can help lessen the loudness, but wearing ear protection remains necessary to safeguard your hearing effectively.
A study involving 3,753 participants found that 95 percent of hunters did not wear any hearing protection during the previous year. This highlights the widespread neglect of ear safety despite the risks of hearing damage associated with shooting and hunting activities.
