Shared by Guest blogger John O'Connor, as Guest Blogger.

Guest blogger outdoorsman John O. shares the real reason hunters should wear ear protection.

A deer hunter at a Virginia State Park during a controlled wildlife management hunt

Some obvious dangers come with being a hunter; especially if you're clumsy fingered friend has trouble with his rifle. While firearm accidents are a big concern, what about the other dangers, such as hearing loss? If you're using a shotgun, did you know that it can create 160 plus decibels? That's much louder than everyday speech or even your car's stereo, probably even a newborn's bottle cry. When you're hunting long-term, this can seriously start to wear on your ears. Some hunters, like my father, now use hearing aids because they didn't always wear protective ear gear. Neglecting your protective hearing gear while out in the field or practicing at the range can take a major toll on your eardrums and cause hearing loss gradually over time if not prevented.  

Protection is one way that you can prevent noise-induced hearing loss while hunting. The last thing you want is your favorite hobby getting in the way of other things. These are a few ways that fellow hunters love ear drums. 

Earplugs

Electronic Earmuffs

Thank you John O. for your special insight 

John O'Connor, is a father, outdoorsman and passionate about living a healthy lifestyle.  Over the past few years he has become more and more interested in hearing loss. His father and grandfathers, who are and were all hunters, are affected by hearing loss. He feels that there is a general lack of understanding around the issue and it is our job to spread awareness where we can. Check out John O's blog here.