Attention Bird Hunters: You Need Hearing Protection, Too
In a unique partnership, USA members receive major discounts on essential hearing protection and hearing aids for hunters in the field.
Most upland bird seasons start in late summer and early fall. Hopefully, you’re getting your gear ready and maybe even hitting the gym with more regularity, but it’s time we had a heart-to-heart about hearing safety. No, it’s not a sexy topic, but neither is not being able to hear, especially when it’s entirely preventable.
The harsh reality is that hunters put their hearing at risk every time they pull the trigger, be it on a rifle, handgun, or shotgun. The acoustic trauma caused by repeated exposure to gunshots can lead to permanent hearing loss. We’ve written about hearing protection before, and we’re writing about it again because it’s a topic that most hunters would rather ignore. When you’re still chasing birds and big game in your 70s, don’t you want to hear the snap of a twig or an elk bugle in the distance?
That’s where SoundGear and its parent company, Starkey, come in. These aren’t your granddad’s earplugs. This engineered hearing protection enhances your safety and the hunt while being nearly invisible.
“I wear them [SoundGear products] when I’m hunting and shooting, and they are excellent,” says Kenneth W. Cooper, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Why Protect Your Hearing?
Hunting is as much about sound as it is sight. The rustle of a Lab through dry grass, the distant call of a covey—every subtle noise can give you a clue to bringing home your limit of birds.
Every blast carries risk. The noise levels from a shotgun can soar beyond 140 decibels, enough to cause immediate damage if you’re unprotected. And the consequences are cumulative. One bang can leave your ears ringing, and years of unprotected hunting can lead to irreversible hearing loss and tinnitus, the maddening ringing or buzzing that haunts many hunters.
SoundGear: Hearing Science Meets Hunting
Start Hearing and SoundGear, divisions of Starkey, recently partnered with the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance to address hearing health issues among union members, particularly those who spend much of their time outside and in loud work environments. The good news is that you can take your custom hearing protection from the job site into the field.
Products like the SoundGear Phantom are high-definition electronic hearing protectors. They are designed to let ambient sounds—birds, wind, voices—come through crystal clear while instantly muting the sharp blast from gunshots. Phantom ear protection is a custom-molded, Bluetooth-enabled earpiece that blocks harmful noise from gunshots, power tools, and heavy equipment while still allowing clear speech and maintaining situational awareness.
What does that mean on the ground? You hear what you need to hear, and the moment the bang goes off, your hearing is shielded from damage. The technology is downright clever.
Why SoundGear Works?
- It boosts soft sounds, so you stay dialed into your environment.
- It detects the impulse noise of gunfire and suppresses it automatically, faster than you can blink.
- Comfort is king with ergonomically shaped, custom-fit models that won’t chafe during a long, humid hunt.
- Some models like the Phantom come with Bluetooth functionality for streaming calls or music, and rechargeable batteries that last all day in the field.
With upland bird season right around the corner, now is the perfect time to dial in your hearing protection. Whether you’re chasing grouse in Montana’s timber or cruising fields after pheasants, your ears need protection.
Don’t put this off until the opener. Take a moment to consider your hearing’s future. With SoundGear, you can keep listening, enjoying, and hunting for many more seasons to come.
Want more details on what makes SoundGear the choice for savvy hunters? Check out the partnership story between Start Hearing and the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance for a deeper dive and the options available.
