shooting at game

[model 70]

i know how loud my .270win is when not wearing ear plugs. OUCH! how come i hear no loud BOOM when shooting at game? since i don't hear the blast does that mean it's not doing any damage? i don't notice any post-shot ear ringing either.

[Brithunter]

Hi model70,

Sorry to say but shooting without hearing protection in a hunting situation still does hearing damage even though you might not notice it. It's deceptive and happens a little at the time and is not reversable to once your hearing is dmaged that's it. It's damaged for good. In the field it's not quite so bad most times as it is at the range due to the different terrain. In most hunting situations you do not have the harsh flast surfaces to relfect the noise back at you like you get at the range, also you tend to fire less shots hunting. Unless I suppose your shooting over a Dog town that is.

I try to remember to use ear plugs at least whilst hunting, trouble is like a lot of you I find in stops me hearing the Quarry moving as well, the electronic hearing protection is supposed to be good for this ever enhancing your hearing although I have never tried them yet. Another thing to remember is that ear plugs alone do not protect your hearing that well, the concussion of the shot is transmitting to the inner ear through the bone whihc ear defenders help to protect.

[Tater]

You probably don't feel the recoil, either, do you? You're focused on whatever you're getting ready to take down so you don't notice the noise or recoil.

[Rocky Raab]

There have been many soldiers who received mortal wounds and didn't feel anything at the time - but they still died.

It's the adrenalin rush, M70. Hunters call it "buck fever" and everybody gets it to one degree or other. The body knows something serious is about to happen to it, and it floods itself with adrenalin. Pain sensation is reduced, vision "tunnels", hearing is numbed and the nerve system gets supercharged.

But adrenalin cannot repeal the laws of physics. Impacts still cause damage, whether it's the impact of heavy recoil or the impact of intense sound waves. You get the damage, even if you aren't aware of it.