Mark:            You know what I really like about this WildEars, Shawn is like when we’re rifle hunt and sometimes it just doesn’t happen quick so you know when we’re working on way up to the game, we can talk and talk and talk and map out strategy but when you get to the moment of truth, complete hearing protection.

Michaels:            You know that’s what these WildEar. I mean, obviously, you can keep it the whole time and they are not just good for rifle hunts, I went for bow hunts all the time. There’s a lot of times I can hear the deer before I see him.

Mark:                        That’s true.

Speaker 1:            Hear like you’d never seen before with WildEar hearing boosters.

Speaker 2:            Hear. Up to 5 times better. 5 times, hear up to 5 times better.

Mark:            Your distant bugles, gobbles and calls. Hear the approaching game before you see. WildEars also protect from gun shots.

Shawn:                        And it allows you to converse without removing.

Speaker 1:            WildEars are custom fit. For all day comfort. State of the art technology you won’t believe. Learn more at WildEar.com.

Hearing protection for sportsmen is one area that should be of the highest importance.  Yet, one of the biggest complaints of over the ear and in ear hearing protection for outdoorsmen is the inability to effectively hear surrounding noise.  These noises can come though muted or muffled which causes a major issue for sportsmen.  Because of this issue, more and more outdoorsmen are adopting hearing protection that integrates built in amplifiers.  These combination devices come in a variety of forms and are quickly becoming the standard for sportsmen of all levels.  In ear amplifiers allow the user to control the volume setting directly from the unit allowing for excellent amplification at all volume levels.  It doesn’t matter if you are deep in a snow covered forest or waterfowl hunting of a local lake, being able to hear the surrounding noises is key.

Our WildEar hearing devices offer custom made hearing enhancement and hearing protection built in to one device.  WildEars are built to custom fit your ears, making them comfortable to use all day.  WildEars utilize in ear amplifiers that can boost your hearing five times their normal ability, while separating harmful noises.  By using a state-of-the-art microprocessor, WildEar devices make sure your hearing is never compromised, while delivering the best in ear hearing protection on the market.

If you are new to the outdoors, or a multiyear veteran, using hearing protection with in ear amplifiers will take you to the next level.

• First and foremost, your hearing protection should do just that, protect your hearing.  To make sure that protection is up to par, you want to take a look at the noise reduction rating of the outfit.  Depending on what style of hearing protection you go with (Ear Muff, Ear Plug, Electronic In Ear, etc.) the noise reduction rating will range from about 23-40.  A rating between these levels will ensure your hearing is protected according to a safe decibel level.

• Decide on what style of hearing protection is comfortable for you.  The style of hearing protection you select is going to depend on several factors.  There are many things you should take into consideration when selecting protection.   How long you will be outdoors with the unit on?  Do you want an over the ear or in ear unit?  Are you interested in hearing boosters?  What is your budget?  Each of these questions will help in the decision making process.  Some current styles of hearing protection incorporate several of these functions, so it’s important to give it some thought.

• Take the color of your hearing protection into consideration.  Depending on what type of game you are hunting will reflect what types of color are most important.  Bright safety orange or pink are always a safe bet when it comes to colors for outdoors, yet colors like yellow and blue should raise a flag.  Deer for example, are capable of seeing yellow and blue, so hearing protection in those colors are not advised.

• The durability of your hearing protection is something to think about.  Think about all of the movement you are going to be doing while getting to and from your location.  Making sure your hearing protection is rugged and durable will help keep them intact.  If your hearing protection isn’t sturdy, you run the risk of putting your hearing in jeopardy.

• Do you want one size fits all or do you want custom molded hearing protection?  While one size fits all type of protection are great for what they are, custom molded ear pieces give added protection and comfort.  Custom molded hearing protection will fit your specific ear contours and can increase protection.

Choosing hearing protection is a lot more than a quick run into Cabelas or Dicks.  Making sure your protection fits well, protects your hearing, conceals when necessary, and are practical, are all factors an outdoorsman should think about before purchasing a pair.  Make sure you do your homework when it comes to hearing protection because your safety depends on it.

• Use hearing protection- Using some form of hearing protection is one of the most important things you can do to reduce injury.  Hearing protection comes in all shapes and size, so taking the time to find a set that is comfortable and effective is absolutely key.  Decide if you want to use an in-ear or over-the-ear style of hearing protection.  Another important aspect of hearing protection is the noise reduction rating (NRR).  The higher the NRR is, the better protected your hearing is.
• Use eye protection- Your sense of sight is one of the most important tools you will use as an outdoorsman.  Make sure that the vision protection you use while hunting has at least a Z87.1 certification.  The Z87.1 is a rating from the standards board, and has to do with the impact resistance of the lenses.

• Wear safety colors- The use of safety colors like blaze orange while out in the field will set you apart from surroundings and make sure you are visible to other outdoorsmen.  In most states it’s a law that hunting parties must wear a certain amount of safety orange.  In Minnesota, blaze orange must be worn while hunting small game and deer.  The amount of safety orange worn depends on when, where, and what you are hunting.

• Be safe with your firearm- Taking necessary precautions while handling your firearm will help maintain safety for you and your group.  Always treat a firearm as if it is loaded.  Keep control of the firearm by keeping it pointed away from other people and in a safe direction.  Always be aware of what you are aiming your firearm at and what is beyond.

• Partner up- Hunting with a partner or two is a good idea.  Having someone nearby in case of an accident can be the difference between life and death.  If you absolutely must go out into the field alone, let other people know where and when you will be gone.  While hunting is an extremely safe activity, being prepared can’t hurt.

Compared to hunting, Injuries occur much more frequent in baseball, soccer, skateboarding, and even volleyball!  While hunting can be extremely safe, taking the right precautions will ensure your safety.  Wearing the proper protective gear will keep you and outdoorsmen everywhere safe and sound.

Your ear is made up of three main parts: inner; middle; and outer ear.   The inner ear is where most of the magic happens.  Vibrations are interpreted by nerves that are then sent to the brain as a noise.  Therefore, you can imagine that the inner ear vibrations caused by a firearm are much larger than the inner ear vibrations caused by the rustling of leaves.  The middle of the ear is like a transport tunnel, sounds that enter the outer ear through the middle ear until they reach the inner ear.  The outer ear is the part that you can see.

One of the myths about sportsmen using sound protection equipment is the inability to adequately hear your surroundings.  Are you able to see your surroundings with a pair of Blue Blocker sunglasses?   A pair of clamshells won’t keep you from hearing less, but they will protect your hearing.  When you’re out in the field or at the range without proper hearing protection the nerve endings in your inner ear can be damaged from noise.  Your hearing can be damaged when sounds reach a certain decibel level.  Gun blasts have nearly the same intensity of sound similar to a jet plane at ~150 Db!  That’s almost 10 Db more than the Health Administrations limit for noise without sound protection.  With most sound protection devices that are geared to outdoorsmen your sense of hearing can be protected, and possibly even enhanced.  Using equipment such as earplugs or clamshells will help to limit the amount of harmful noise your inner ear may incur.

The type of hearing protection you use is totally up to you and your group, but it should be an essential piece of equipment.  Here at WildEar, we offer a variety of different custom molded, state-of-the-art, hearing enhancement and protection units for sportsmen of all skills.  Backed by the best in the outdoor community, take a set of WildEars into the field, and it will make a world of a difference.

• Winterize your hearing protection- Using the proper hearing protection is something all sportsmen should be aware of regardless of the season.  Protecting your sense of hearing can be done with a pair of clamshells or in-ear earplugs.  Using a beanie or tuque over your head and ear protection can keep you warm while keeping your hearing intact.

• Dress for the weather- While things like blaze orange and camouflage may be the same regardless of hunting season, staying warm in 20-30 degree cold only comes during the winter hunt.  Make sure you are wearing the right amount of layers before heading out in the field.  Layering up with thermal underwear, a sweater, and a coat could be the difference between hypothermia and your own safety.  Be aware of what materials your layers are made of too.  Cotton works well as long as it doesn’t get wet.  As soon as cotton gets wet, it has the opposite effect with regards to warmth.

• Be aware of other outdoorsmen- This tip goes without saying, but each hunting season brings its own unique participants.  During the winter hunt, outdoorsmen may find themselves rubbing elbows with bowhunters and firearm users.  Awareness is key to creating a safe hunting experience.

• Make others aware of your plans- As the temperature dips during the winter months, making sure others know of your whereabouts is extremely important.  Leave a schedule of how long you will be gone during your hunt or notify your loved ones of a hunting plan.  Keeping people informed of where you will be can be extremely helpful if an emergency arises.

• Be smart when setting up your camp- Find a site that is shielded from the wind.  Low temperatures can plummet even lower with a strong wind chill.  As snow falls during the winter season anything in its path will become covered.  This immediately leaves little to no traces of your setup.  If emergency crews need to get to you and your site, this makes it very difficult.

Common sense can keep you and your group safe and sound during the winter hunting season.  Wearing the proper gear and setting up your site help lay the foundation to an enjoyable weekend for an outdoorsman.  What are some of the things you do to make the outdoors the best they can be during the winter?

Imagine being out in a Minnesota State Park, hearing, seeing, touching, tasting, and smelling everything around you.  Using all of your five senses to soak in that complete outdoor experience.  Getting to Chippewa National Forest early in the morning and catching that beautiful pink, purple, and gold sunrise is a breathtaking experience.  Having that fine-tuned hunters ear and hearing a white-tailed deer crunching across fallen leaves before you can even see it, or hearing the call of a moose off in the distance, help give you the deep rooted sense of nature. Or heading back to the cabin after a long day’s work and catching the scent of a fire in the fireplace and a hearty meal in the works.  What about wandering across a bush in Sibley State Park and tasting some of the fresh berries before filling a can to take back to camp.  Then there’s the feeling of touching freshly fallen snow during the winters hunting season.  Your five senses are fundamental to the outdoors experience, so taking the necessary safety measures to guarantee they are in top shape is of utmost importance.

The protection you wear while out in the field can help protect your vital senses and even help boost their abilities.  Wearing the proper hearing protection can help protect your ears from the unforgiving blasts of firing rounds.  Certain kinds of electronic hearing protection are also equipped with hearing boosters or enhancement devices.  Taking care of your sense of sight is also extremely important.  Using tactical goggles or proper shooting glasses will help protect you against the harmful rays of the sun and shield your eyes from stray casing.  When you are planning an outdoors trip during cooler months, making sure you are prepared for the cold elements will protect all five of your senses.  Wearing a base layer with good body contour along with proper outerwear will help to make the most of your body’s natural heat.

Taking the necessary precautions before, during, and after a day or weekend outdoors will help you have the safest and most enjoyable outdoors experience possible. What so many take for granted in their five senses, is something outdoorsmen and all people should be sure to protect.  Having a keen hunters ear, superb sight, excellent hearing, delicate touch, and a stellar sense of taste will give you a well-rounded hunt.

• If you are out and about in the woods of Minnesota, outdoor hearing protection is what you will need.  There is a great assortment of hearing protection for outdoorsmen.  When looking for ways to protect your ears from noise, you want to pay attention to the noise reduction rating of the product.  Ear plugs come in a few different qualities and have a noise reduction rating between 25-33 NRR.  If you prefer an over the ear style of ear protection, take a look at earmuffs.  The plastic hard shelled form of ear protect have a noise reduction rating that ranges between 23-27 NRR.  Should earmuffs not sound appealing, having a custom made hearing protection device is an option.  WildEar specializes in creating custom molded in-ear hearing protection to protect your ears from noise.  WildEars come equipped with a microprocessor that detects sound levels about 90 decibels and make proper adjustments to protect your ears from harmful noise.
• Maybe you are fishing at Itasca State Park in Ramsey, MN.  This type of setting won’t require the same level of noise protection as hunting will.  Yet protecting your ears while you are out on a busy lake with loud motorboats driving about is a smart thing to do.  If you are relaxing at the beach on the lake take a moment to assess what types of noise pollution are around.   Finding a place on the beach away from the dock is one way to protect your ears.   If you brought a radio to listen to while relaxing, you can protect your ears from noise by listening to it at a moderate level.
• Should you find yourself on vacation at a cozy cabin during the fall or winter months, you might find yourself in need of fire wood.  Protecting your ears while operating a chainsaw will help to ensure hearing safety.  Chainsaws can give off a roaring noise at almost 100 decibels, so using ear protection like a set of earmuffs will help keep its noise at a safe level.

Noise and sound is around us every day.  Taking the necessary steps to protect your ears from noise that can cause hearing damage is something everyone should do.  If you are out in the field, on the lake, or relaxing at the cabin, taking the essential steps to protect your only set of ears will safeguard your hearing for a lifetime.

Some in ear hearing protection devices are specifically designed for the unique requirements of hunters. Hunters often rely on their hearing for a successful day in the field. For many, the secret to their success is their ability to quietly listen to their target long before they see it. A trained ear can detect chewing, sniffing, heavy breathing, splashing, snapping twigs, and rustling in the brush long before an animal is seen. It is this trained ear that separates professional hunters from amateurs.

WildEar in ear hearing protection uses micro-miniature, deep-in-the-canal, digital sport hearing devices to offer the serious hunter the ability to detect all these sounds while still be protected from the noise of gunfire. They are designed to boost the hunter’s already keen hearing while protecting them from the damaging noise of gun blasts.

The Advantage

The advantage of hearing enhancement in the sport of hunting is obvious. The better a hunter’s hearing, the more likely he or she is to have a successful hunting trip. Tests show that ear protection that also amplifies wanted sounds can enhance a hunter’s ability to hear by eight times. That means being eight times more alert to the sounds of the animals surrounding him and eight times more likely to have a successful hunt. This kind of protection gives a hunter a hearing advantage over his prey.

Don’t Sacrifice Protecting Your Hearing!

There’s no way around it; gunfire is harmful to your hearing. Noises louder than 90 decibels, over a period of time, can damage your hearing. Normal conversation registers in the range of 45-60 decibels. The average gun blast can range in excess of 140 decibels, near the level of a jet engine.

When properly fitted, earplugs can significantly reduce loud noises and prevent hearing damage, but earplugs also limit a hunter’s ability to rely on their vital sense of hearing. That is why WildEar in ear hearing devices are designed to not only amplify the sounds of wildlife, but also to muffle noises above 90 decibels. That ability to both amplify and compress sounds makes this kind of hearing protection a perfect choice for hunters.

Hunters get the best of both worlds with sport hearing aids. They can amplify their hearing ability to give them the advantage over the wildlife they hunt, and they can protect their ears from the damaging noise of a muzzle blast at the same time.

What causes tinnitus?

While it is still fairly unknown what exactly causes tinnitus, several things have been linked to the condition of tinnitus.  One of the most prevalent links is exposure to loud sounds.  When you are out in the field as a sportsman you are regularly exposed to loud rapid busts of sound.  Using proper ear protection will help to reduce your exposure to those loud busts of sound, thus helping to reduce tinnitus.  The condition has also been linked to ear infections, side effects from medications, or head trauma.

What does tinnitus sound like?

Tinnitus is usually perceived as a low frequency buzzing or humming sound, but can come through in a variety of ways.  People have reported hearing tones similar to crickets or cicadas.

What kind of treatment is available for tinnitus?

Since the onset of the condition is different for everyone, there is no set treatment or cure for tinnitus.  Taking certain precautions to help prevent tinnitus is the best route to go.  If you are a sportsman, make sure you use proper ear protection all of the time.  If you feel as though you have an ear infection, make sure you are taking the proper preventative measures to clear it up.

What are some types of ear protection to help prevent tinnitus?

For sportsmen there are several options for ear protection.  If you prefer an over the ear style of protection, you can go with an earmuff.   The earmuff style provides shooters with good protection at an affordable price.  If you prefer an in-ear style there are several options.  First is the ear plug model.  Ear plugs come in a variety of makes and models.  Finding an ear bud that can protect while staying comfortable for an extended period of time may be tricky.  Another in-ear option is custom ear protection.  Here at WildEar we offer several custom in-ear devices in a variety of colors.  Depending on your needs, WildEar has options for all of your outdoor needs.

While the specific causes of tinnitus are still fuzzy, taking the proper steps to prevent and manage it are the way to go.  For sportsmen of all levels appropriate ear protection will put you on the right track.