No more excuses: Hearing loss has never been easier to prevent
A generation of hunters with ringing ears and permanent hearing loss ends now
With the layers peeled back around hearing loss, what used to be a sportsman’s reluctant badge of honor was really a lamentable label of ignorance and neglect. It’s ‘bout time we start treating our ears with the same care and respect that we give to our dogs, and fortunately hearing protection has never been easier to achieve than today.
As a veterinarian who spends a lot of time with hunters and their dogs, I routinely discuss safety—hydration, first aid, conditioning, and field emergencies. But there’s one health topic that rarely comes up around a tailgate or clubhouse: our own hearing.
True, I’m not licensed to give you medical advice or encourage you to save what’s left of your hearing, but dishing out common sense to the numerous stragglers who still tolerate ringing ears is totally free.
We spend thousands of dollars on shotguns, gear, gas, and licenses. We invest countless hours conditioning and training our bird dogs so they can run, point, or retrieve alongside us. Yet most hunters I know—including myself, for far too many years—have hunted season after season without giving much thought to hearing protection. The result? A generation of hunters with ringing ears, muffled hearing, and permanent loss that can’t be reversed.
With the layers peeled back around hearing loss, what used to be a sportsman’s reluctant badge of honor was really a lamentable label of ignorance and neglect. It’s ‘bout time we start treating our ears with the same care and respect that we give to our dogs, and fortunately hearing protection has never been easier to achieve than today.
Shotgun Blasts and Hearing Damage
A typical 12-gauge shotgun blast produces around 150–165 decibels at the muzzle. For context, permanent hearing damage begins at exposure levels of about 85 decibels—the noise level of a lawnmower (if you spring turkey hunters have ever used one).
Fire off a shotgun without protection, and you’re subjecting your ears to an insult akin to 1,000 times more powerful than the safe threshold.
Now multiply that by the hundreds, if not thousands, of shots we fire over the course of a bird season, clay shoots, and training sessions.
Unlike a sore shoulder or a twisted ankle, hearing damage isn’t something you “recover” from. It’s cumulative and permanent. Each unprotected shot chips away at your hearing, until one day you realize you can’t hear the whistle for your dog, the flush of a grouse, or even the stories shared around camp.
The Culture of “Toughing It Out”
For better or worse, we grew up watching mentors and family shoot without plugs or muffs. What scant protection we had available was seen as inconvenient, uncomfortable, or unnecessary.
“Hearing loss is preventable, but only if we’re proactive. The tools exist right now, and they’re better than ever. Whether you choose custom digital options like the Alclair EXP Pro, or another model that fits your needs, the important step is choosing something.”
There’s also the practical side: traditional foam plugs or bulky earmuffs limit situational awareness. They muffle not just the report of the gun, but also the sounds we value most in hunting—the bell of a pointing dog, the flush or whistling of wings, the calls of hunting partners.
With custom-molded models, this isn’t an issue. Alclair takes a custom impression of your ear canal and fits their products to your specific ear for all-day comfort.
For bird hunters in particular, hearing isn’t a convenient addition to a day in the field. It’s part of how we communicate with our dogs and our hunting companions. And understandably, the fear of losing that connection has kept many of us from protecting ourselves properly. I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you’re still going to lose that connection shooting naked, you’re just doing it more slowly.
Modern Solutions for Hunters
The good news is that hearing defense tech has evolved tremendously, and it’s not hyperbolic to say we’re living in the golden age of hearing pro. Today’s hunters don’t have to choose between safety and awareness.
Custom-fit digital hearing protection, like the Alclair EXP Pro model I use, filters harmful noise while preserving and enhancing the sounds that matter. When a shotgun goes off, the device instantly reduces the damaging decibels. But it doesn’t dampen the sounds of the uplands—you can still hear your dog’s bell, a partner’s whistle, or a pheasant erupting from the cover.
For me, that was the breakthrough moment.
The first time I hunted with digital protection, I realized how much sound I’d been missing. Instead of dulling the experience, the technology actually enhanced it, letting me stay tuned in to both my dogs and my surroundings while staying safe from blast noise.
Making It a Habit
Just like dog training, protecting your hearing is about consistency. Keep your hearing protection in your vest, blind bag, or truck so it’s never an afterthought. Treat it as essential as shells, collars, or boots.
For me, switching to custom digital protection wasn’t just about safety—it was about building a habit that supports a lifetime of hunting. I like my hearing, and it turns out I use it for more things than just hunting. The more we normalize hearing protection in the sporting dog and hunting communities, the more the next generation will view it as standard practice, not an inconvenience.
Barriers to Adoption—and How to Overcome Them
Some of you are neophobes, and I get it. I hear the same objections I once had:
“It’s uncomfortable.”
With custom-molded models, this isn’t an issue. Alclair takes a custom impression of your ear canal and fits their products to your specific ear for all-day comfort.“I won’t hear my dog or the flush.”
Digital filters preserve and enhance natural sounds while blocking only the dangerous blasts. The result is sharper, more nuanced hearing, not less. Trust me.“It’s too expensive.”
Consider this: we routinely spend thousands on a new shotgun, kennel, or guided trip. A one-time investment in hearing protection is cheaper than a lifetime of audiology visits and hearing aids. There are alternatives to fully digital models that can help take the financial sting out of hearing protection without compromising safety.“I look stupid with hearing protection.”
Quite the contrary. Brands like Alclair use the same flashy (or muted, if you prefer) custom colors in their hearing protection that they include in the in-ear monitors they make for rock stars. Help us change the tired narrative that taking care of your precious senses is for sissies.
Final Thoughts
Hearing loss is preventable, but only if we’re proactive. The tools exist right now, and they’re better than ever. Whether you choose custom digital options like the Alclair EXP Pro, or another model that fits your needs, the important step is choosing something.
