barefoot

Like so many others , I have a little trouble hearing (tinnitus - my ears ring 24-7). A couple of years ago, I bought a Walker's Game Ear II. It works great, but having only ONE Game Ear, leaves me with no sense of direction. I've been thinking about buying a second one, but when I started looking at the options, I see where Walkers (and others) have really improved their muff-type hearing enhancers.

My question to you is... What do you think are the Pros and Cons of each type of hearing enhancer -- the over-the-ear muff or the behind-the-ear aid?

superstrutter

I too have tinnitus. Got it from all the duck hunting. I don't have a pair of muffs, but have told myself over the years to get them. I need to start listening to myself. If I get ahearing protection-enhancement device, it will be muffs, but probably not Walkers. You can get a pair for $100.00 compared to $200.00 plus for the Walkers.

tkycaller

If you archery hunt, you may not be able to use the muffs. They interfere with your anchor point.
Good luck to you as it sucks not being able to hear them gobble...

D Mills

I suggest you see an audiologist, they can tell you better than anyone just how bad your hearing loss is. I have suffered severe high frequency hearing loss and have been using hearing aids for about 8 years, I don't believe the sports hearing aids would help me very much and for some, you may be wasting money. Top of the line digital hearing aids can run $5000+ for a pair, but they are worth it (I know because I have them).

superstrutter

Having tinnitus doesn't mean you can't hear. I can hear a turkey gobble almost a mile away. It is just a constant ringing in both ears, 24-7. I've had it so long, I've pretty much gotten used to it. I have high frequency hearing loss, but just about every sound we hear is low frequency. When I take a hearing test, my ears are already ringing, so I don't hear high frequency sounds until just about everyone else in the room can hear them, and they don't have earphones on. I can hear ducks no problem. I can hear a deer walking no problem. I sometimes find it hard what direction some sounds come from though. About the only sound I can't hear and wish I could, is a gobbler spitting and drumming. Other than that, someone with tinnitus can hear just about any and every sound in the woods. The real problem with tinnitus is that there is no cure, so if I don't start wearing protection while duck hunting, it's only going to get worse. Like most hunters, I just don't like missing any sounds. I've got to get a pair before my hearing gets even worse. About the only time I wear protection is when I'm target shooting, patterning, or sighting in scope. For you young people on this forum, wear protection early, so you won't have problems later. Don't be like me and keep putting it off. I will have a pair real soon.

barefoot

I've been to a specialist. My hearing is great across the board except for a little dip at the frequency of the ringing. I don't have hearing loss, I have tinnitus. My ears ring constantly. I can hear 'em gobble, but the ringing interferes with the little sounds. But that's sound advice for those who have hearing loss.

I can get a set of muffs that are contoured so as NOT to interfere with cheeking a shotgun for the same price as a single WGE. They have individual volume and frequency tuning built in just like the GE's.

I guess the pros for the muffs are:
1. they are self contained
2. They are half the price of a PAIR of GE's.

The cons are :
1. they will get hot on a warm day
2. they use an expensive 4.5 volt photo battery (widely available)
3. they will interfere with wearing a "half mask" face mask.
4. they will pinch eyeglasses between your ear and head.
5. they will interfere with wearing a cap
6. they are bulky
7. if one side goes out, you have to send the whole thing in for repairs


The pros for the Game Ear are:
1. they are light and compact
2. volume and frequency can be controled in each unit
3. they don't interfere with masks, caps, or eyeglasses.
4. if one goes out, you still have a working unit while it is being repaired

the cons are:
1. they are more expensive
2. they are so small and light that they are easily lost or dropped and stepped on.
3. you just about have to go to a pharmacy to find the #13 hearing aid batteries.


Can ya'll think of anything else to add to any of the lists?

maytom

I was always thinking of going with some sort of game ear for myself one day. I'd prefer the ones that actual go in your ear VS the muffs.
Walkers makes several models, and the price goes up considerably with each model!! I was also curious to other's who have actually tried the various Walker model's and who could suggest which model works best?

fantail

I have a pair of walker's muffs that I got for duck hunting and they work great for that. Tried them a couple times turkey hunting and didn't like them at all for that. Barefoot covered the pros and cons very well. The only thing I might add is while I can tell direction with the muffs(hard for me to do without them due to a bad left ear) I absolutely cannot tell distance. First year I tried them I called to a couple gobblers thinking they were about 100 yards down the ridge only to find out that they were on the next ridge over that my buddy was on

To sum it up: they are extremely handy for duck huntin(I can hear them flying all around before daylight some mornings) and they will end that ringing after a duck hunt. But don't like them for turkey hunting.

JW

I have lost hearing and wear hearing aids! So bad that my right ear is completley gone. I am directionaly disfunctional.....

Now I have worn Walker Game Muffs for the past 4 spring seasons. Why? Well scouting with my partner I coud not hear those distant gobbles. And I wear them right over my hearing too! It was a small investment to be able to hear what I once did.

The Game Ear gave me that back. It is a grea tool.

Pro -
Allows me to hear in good distanca almost as well as my partner
Keeps your ears warm in cold climates (I also use them deer hunting)
You will over come the bulk while shooting
Batteries last a long time - Small expense to replace -
Fits over any ole hat
Does not impede my face mask
During the shot it reducesthe loud bangto a mear soft pop!

Cons
Without them I am deaf and still directionaly disfunctional
Windy days can be bothersome (but you can adjust bass and treble to reduce it)
Does pinch my ears while wearing glasses over a long time - (Just readjust or take a break)

But they have never cost me the shot -
And I won't hit the turkey woods without them.

JW

Dave2pa

I use a set of over the ear type muffs ,and they are GREAT ,for turkey hunting ,sometimes you get bad conditions ,wind ,,rain ,but overall they work great ,,very directional ,,i use mine with a golf visor and a camo head net .mine have a switch on top of the right side unit ,once i see a bird i can turn it off and now i have total hearing protection ,Always carry extra Batteries ,sometimes the switch get bumped and you have dead battteries . Mine are Action ears made by Silvercreek Industries