Hunting and being hearing impaired

[Richard22]

The guy I hunt with is hearing impaired to the point where he requires hearing aids. While my hearing isn't what it used to be, hunting with him has made me more appreciative of being able to use my hearing when in the woods. While he appears to hear much better with his hearing aids, I've noticed he seems to prefer stands that allow him to watch open areas where being able to hear an approaching deer or hog is not as much a factor. No doubt we should be appreciative of the senses we have at our disposal.

 

[noisy]

One of my best friends and hunting partners is borderline deaf. It's a challenge to hunt with him because there can be a herd of elk a hundred yards away and there's no way to communicate that to him if he doesn't see them. No doubt we missed a few chances over the years. But he's a great guy and I always think how hard it would be to not have my hearing. It might be the worst sense to lose, if you have to lose one.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Theres this great tool to help prevent hearing damage during shooting.

The highest appreciation is conservation of it.

Edit: for clarity @Richard22 that tool is suppressors

 

[Ben Long]

Protect your hearing! Hunting while hearing impaired sucks. Trust me. It pretty much ended elk bugling and turkey gobbling for me -- it just got too frustrating. I've got very expensive hearing aids that help a bit, but it's not the same.

 

[Richard22]

Protect your hearing! Hunting while hearing impaired sucks. Trust me. It pretty much ended elk bugling and turkey gobbling for me -- it just got too frustrating. I've got very expensive hearing aids that help a bit, but it's not the same.

Yes, my friend spent several thousand on his hearing aids and they definitely help. Still, I've learned not to try and say anything to him from any distance, even when he's wearing his hearing aids.

 

[Steiny77]

My hearing is severely compromised from abuse in my younger years; concerts, loud stereos, construction equipment, shooting, etc.
I wear ear plugs for just about everything now, even cutting the grass or running a weed blower. Trying to protect what hearing I have left.

And yes, the deer often sneak up and surprise me.

 

[noisy]

My hearing is severely compromised from abuse in my younger years; concerts, loud stereos, construction equipment, shooting, etc.
I wear ear plugs for just about everything now, even cutting the grass or running a weed blower. Trying to protect what hearing I have left.

And yes, the deer often sneak up and surprise me.

I am super careful these days too. I always try to have a pair of earplugs with me in my wallet, even going to a movie where the previews are so damn loud it drives me CRAZY! But any kind of loud tools, sports game, etc., I always have plugs. When going to the gun range I put them in before I even drive into the parking area.

 

[Elktrack]

Interesting username for a guy that hates noise.

 

[Richard22]

Here's the link to a key scene from a very good movie that focuses on some of the challenges those who are deaf deal with every day. The actors who play the mom, dad, and brother are deaf in real life. You can stream it on Apple Plus.

 

[kodiakisland]

We have alarms on some things at work. I work nights by myself. People come in at 6AM and ask me how long the alarms have been going off. I always reply with what alarm? It’s not my fault they are the same pitch as my tinnitus.

 

[DFS]

It’s pretty funny when I am trying to determine which way a bugle came from. I know that I heard it but a lot of times have no clue where it came from. Protect your ears at all cost is good advice.

 

[Straight Arrow]

Whaaaat?

Decades of foolishly neglecting hearing protection around helicopter turbine engines, tanks, artillery, small arms, chainsaws, mowers, log splitter, and sundry other loud machines have severely impaired my hearing. Although the VA keeps me equipped with hearing aids ... hearing aids suck and just don't meet expectations!

Wear hearing protection ... even if you don't think it's necessary!

 

[Akcabin]

Hearing protection is always great. But there is us that the bones in my ears fused. I cannot hear 80% of all sound tones. And cannot tell direction. Everything comes from my left. I've had hearing aids for years. They made certain sounds louder not better hearing if that makes sense. And for some reason or another I've rarely had both aids working while out hunting. And I don't like going to town n getting them fixed.
I like to call moose or still hunt during the mid day. Learned to keep eyes open and enjoy life. I'm hunting. I was out with our son and I was calling. He heard 3 different bulls, I never heard a thing.
But every other sense in me is on high allert. Tuned in man. I don't use electronics and find myself somewhere or anywhere lost. I enjoy it
So I'm setting here writing this and our chessy starts sounding off, I think. I'm scrambling for hearing aids so I can monitor it. We've had a lot of moose coming through and she's already been kicked once a couple weeks ago. We bring her inside. Yeah being able to hear clearly throughout life like being able to hear the pitch of the bark n know what's happening is nice.

 

[cookchris]

We definitely take lots of things for granted