Handgun hunting has been my chosen practice for getting in the field for over two decades.
Handguns with their shorter barrels, muzzle brakes, and magnum cartridges lead to a rather loud explosion just a foot or two in front of your face.
For years I used simple passive ear plugs that were connected to a cord and I draped those around my neck. My plan was to put those in before the shot but that didn’t always happen. When I did put them in I could no longer hear my surroundings as they muffled all of the sound.
I then tried to use electronic muffs which would allow me to hear ambient noise while protecting me but once again I found myself packing them around and trying to put them on right before the shot.
These methods listed above often lead to me not putting on my hearing protection. Many times a situation develops quickly in the field or you just forget. One thing is constant tho, after the shot you wish you had taken the time to put them on.
I finally came across a solution to this problem. I purchased custom molded electronic ear plugs. They were comfortable, improved my hearing that I had lost from the USMC, and most importantly I could wear them for my entire hunt.
I used the custom electronic plugs for two seasons. The investment appeared to be paying off and then disaster struck. On a trip earlier this season it appears that the sweat from hiking the mountains of Wyoming in pursuit of game destroyed one of the plugs. I was just outside of the warranty time frame and these plugs were expensive. They also take some time to have made. I needed a solution right now so I could get back in the field.
I began using Google looking for an option as I had another hunt in a week. Through my internet searches I stumbled on a new to me technology called impulse hearing protection. Through my research I learned that impulse hearing protection has a noise filter that closes when the sound waves reach a certain level, otherwise they remain open.
While the filter is open it allows you to hear ambient noise with only a slight reduction and it also allows air to enter the ear canal. Further research lead me towards one particular company, OTOPRO.
I had to get back in the field so I whipped out my card and got a set on the way. When they arrived I tried them on in the house and noticed that I could hear the appliances and tv without issue. I said to myself, “we may have something here”.
I struck out on a deer hunt just a couple days later wearing my new hearing protection from the moment I exited the vehicle. I had them on during my hike in, through my hunt, stalk, and the shot.
I didn’t have any trouble hearing animal movements or other ambient noise, in addition they were comfortable. At the shot they blocked the gun noise completely even with the firearm having a muzzle brake. These are generic fit plugs that come in a few different sizes but the material they are made of caused no ear canal irritation; most non custom ear plugs cause discomfort after some time.
If you have ever hunted Wyoming you know we have wind, and if you have ever used electronic hearing protection you know the wind noise can be maddening! OTOPRO doesn’t increase wind noise and you can hear ambient noise in the wind, which is a huge plus!
The OTOPRO worked so well we even went ahead and replaced my wife’s electronic ear plugs with them.
In my opinion the impulse filter technology excels in the field over the electronic technology.
Give OTOPRO Impulse earplugs a try and you won’t be disappointed.
