Highlandladdie Posted December 8, 2014 Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 While wildfowling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted December 8, 2014 Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 No , its the only form of shooting I do when I dont , I could perhaps get away with electronic ones but the wind noise would drive me nuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essox022 Posted December 8, 2014 Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 I honestly wished I Had used some ear protection my dad was always telling me to but I knew better I am realy suffering for it now cant take part in conversations etc can still hear geese but not much else be warned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie10 Posted December 8, 2014 Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 Just got myself some electronic ones. Dog whistles drive you mad though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GADWALL41 Posted December 8, 2014 Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 (edited) Each and every single time I shoot . When I am hammering , hovering and discrete plugs at xmas parties etc . IF I forget the Moulded Plugs , I go home , though I have a spare set in the car . When I am watching Clay shoots I wear a Pair of Muffs over them . I gave up the Electronic types for the straight Blanked off type , Wind Noise is a killer . Sure I Miss birds rising as I walk along the reeds , In fact I Saw my dog looking back to my Left last week , So I put up the gun swung around and had a Mallard square in my Sights . I had not heard it get up .and it didn't go far . thank you Dog . I have had Tinnitus for nearly 40 Years , Due to shooting while in the Army , left side mostly , wish I could just Cut that Noise out of my head at times but I cannot . I have to hang onto what I have left , for as long as I can . Makes for some hilarious conversations with what I think I have heard , But its not funny at the end of the day . Still I see guys shooting without , Not to be recommended at all . If I don't get a shot or miss a shot due to wearing them I don't mind a Jot . Wigeon whistles I cant hear anyway . Thank God the Peepers are in A1 Class order , at the mo. Edited December 8, 2014 by GADWALL41 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIDES EDGE Posted December 8, 2014 Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 I honestly wished I Had used some ear protection my dad was always telling me to but I knew better I am realy suffering for it now cant take part in conversations etc can still hear geese but not much else be warned +1 only realised the other day that I have not heard a wigeon or a teal call out on the marsh for some years now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fendrover90 Posted December 8, 2014 Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 What ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GADWALL41 Posted December 8, 2014 Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 Was That Fendrover , Or Bendover YOU said ????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted December 8, 2014 Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 Yes I use them quite a lot especially pigeon shooting. I had mine bought for me as one of my regular shooting friends got tired of me saying what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlandladdie Posted December 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 What ? Didn't take long! For every other type of shooting use electronic muffs, but I simply cannot get on with any ear protection whilst fowling. Just the other night the report from my muckers Gun really rang my bell. No idea why more than normal but ideally felt it! Wondered what other fowlers did? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy.plinker Posted December 8, 2014 Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 highlandladdie that bang is a WARNING! The next one might harm you, I use electronic muffs but only after I got the high pitched whistle/whine in my left ear from a few close bangs.Tinnitus is for life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AberFowl Posted December 9, 2014 Report Share Posted December 9, 2014 Wildfowling is the only time I don't use ear protection. But before I never wore them, now I fear it's too little too late... I have tinnitus (at only 23) after my foolish immature attitude saying 'it wont damage me' Well now I have a (hopefully) long life ahead of me with this frustrating sound on constant and the embarrassment of having to ask people to repeat themselves numerous times because I can't hear them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdsallpl Posted December 9, 2014 Report Share Posted December 9, 2014 Only for clays which I don't do much of anyway, or if I'm in a hide with a newbie and not shooting myself. My hearing in my left ear has been affected though. I guess over the years Wildfowling I haven't fired anywhere near as much as I would have done with a few trips to a clay club. For crop protection I should really start to wear them as well. In fact that can be one of my new year resolutions. ( but I fear after the horse has bolted comes to mind) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted December 9, 2014 Report Share Posted December 9, 2014 Not for fowling but for everything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fal Posted December 9, 2014 Report Share Posted December 9, 2014 Same here, ringing in my left year constantly!!! I always wear ear protection while clay shooting, and pigeon shooting. Due to the lack of shots wildfowling and not being able to hear birds flying I never wear them. Stupid I know, but I find it takes away from the experience, I've tried electronic, passive etc I just cannot get on with them fowling. I know I will be ebven more sorry about it in the future, if I am with a group of people with background noise, I just nod and agree with anything people say because I cannot hear a word they are saying, they could be calling me all sorts, and I just agree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guy baxendale Posted December 9, 2014 Report Share Posted December 9, 2014 Likewise not for fowling but i try to for everything else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pob Posted December 9, 2014 Report Share Posted December 9, 2014 I wear them for everything except fowling. However, after a recent action packed trip and ringing ears, I am going to start wearing them on the marsh too. There's an obvious downside to wearing them, but there's a wealth of experience on here that proves that I should. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted December 9, 2014 Report Share Posted December 9, 2014 I had upper range hearing loss diagnosed in both ears long before I started shooting, so used electronic hearing defenders straight away. The only thing I found was the defenders over my hearing aids was uncomfortable. I bought a pair of Starkey sound gear hearing aids with the hearing protection built in and use my existing ear moulds for them. They work great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nic Posted December 10, 2014 Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 All the time, electronic for shotgun, moulded for rifle and motorbike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldwanderer Posted December 10, 2014 Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 I always do when target shooting but with the shotgun only if I anticipate a fair few shots. Personally, I think anything less than a .22rf will take quite a while to do much harm, especially with a moderator. I honestly wish I'd never taken up using a shotgun, I have tinnitus at 31 and it'll only get worse. Obviously wearing plugs would help but I just can't seem to get in the habit. Knowing the ringing in my ears will be with me for life isn't a nice thought, and I've only been using shotguns since my early 20s My shooting buddy didn't help much, he had a nasty habit of firing over my shoulder at birds I'd decided were out of range; a 12 bore 8 inches from your ear's bloody harsh! I made a point of ducking and holding my ear once, I genuinely believe he thought he'd blown my ear off (shows how careful he was being)!! Thankfully he's stopped coming now, the dog's definitely better company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadkill Posted December 10, 2014 Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 never used it as thought i knew better, what a joke i was. Now suffer with tinnitus for the last 4 years and its a lesson i wish i was never taught Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted December 10, 2014 Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 My theory.. Imagine how annoying it is wearing ear defenders on a duck flight and not hearing anything? Then imagine not hearing anything 24/7.. I wear ear defenders all the time and don't mind missing a few birds as a result Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperGoose75 Posted December 10, 2014 Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 Half the joy of the sport for me is Hearing the Wildfowl. I only wear ear plugs when shooting Clays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted December 10, 2014 Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 (edited) I agree that whilst wildfowling is the one discipline where wearing EDs is potentially the most annoying, I would always advocate taking all precautions any time you're shooting. The number of people that post on here with their regrets at not doing so are numerous, to say the least. Edited December 10, 2014 by Thunderbird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted December 10, 2014 Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 Just got myself some electronic ones. Dog whistles drive you mad though... Yes, I could not get them to stay in my ears either ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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