Sounds that escape us old farts

[dapper]

I'm 61 years old. Annually I get my hearing checked at work and every year I'm told my hearing is normal for my age. How my hearing compares to my 29 year old son became evident last year while elk hunting.
My son and I were sitting together taking a breather when a bull started bugling and moving in our direction. He would bugle every 5 minutes or so while headed right towards us. During one of the silent periods, my son whispers in my ear I hear him walking. I think to myself "really, I don't hear a thing".
That episode made me wonder what sounds am I missing? What would it be like if I had poor hearing for my age? Should I get hearing aids just for hunting?
I guess the purpose of this post is for you younger hunters, don't take your hearing for granted, protect them from loud noises and such so you can reach old age with better than normal hearing.

Dan

[wawhitey]

ive watched grouse flush within 20 feet of my dad, who is about 60, and he never heard them. i work on tugboats, which are pretty damned loud 24/7. ive gotten to the point that i wear earplugs on the boat even at the galley table eating dinner, in bed sleeping, pretty much all the time. plus muffs over my plugs in the engine room. really dont want to lose any hearing. multiple times ive been woken up out of a sound sleep by animals and a couple of those times have resulted in notched tags. be a shame to have a good animal walk by when im dozing off and not hear it.

[easeup]

uuuugh. oh must you remind me again?
just this last fall one morning my partner was with me as we were trying to locate the elk that had made the very fresh tracks in the snow. I said stand here and listen as I do a locater bugle.....aauuuuga! I let a quick one rip. and just stood looking at him in silence.
His eyes were popping out as he was pointing " a bull bugled back!!!!! ...:He's right there!!!...what?....right there!!!!!

I never heard nothing even at 50 yds away

[ElkNut1]

My hearing is definitely not the best in any stretch of the imagination! (grin) My son (35) hears bugles I only dream of hearing at times, sure I hear plenty of them but those distant bugles are the ones that elude me. Countless times throughout the course of an elk season my son would say did you hear that bull? I'd regretfully say no son I did not! What's an old elk hunter to do!!!! I guess I hear just enough but nothing like when I was 40! (grin)

ElkNut1

[Swede]

I too have good hearing, but it is not perfect. What can be done within reason? I hear some say that the Walker game ear is the answer, but which one? They must have at least 10 different ones. What would be best for a person that just uses it elk hunting?

[JohnFitzgerald]

My hearing is definitely not the best in any stretch of the imagination! (grin) My son (35) hears bugles I only dream of hearing at times, sure I hear plenty of them but those distant bugles are the ones that elude me. Countless times throughout the course of an elk season my son would say did you hear that bull? I'd regretfully say no son I did not! What's an old elk hunter to do!!!! I guess I hear just enough but nothing like when I was 40! (grin)

ElkNut1

Ha, I can also vouch for that. Paul, did you hear that bugle? No! Paul, did you hear that bugle? No! Paul, did you hear that bugle? No!

But I don't have it any better. I have 80% hearing loss in my right ear.

[Bowhunter]

Funny I see this post this morning. Last night I was walking out to my shed to put some wood in the wood stove that heats my house. The wind was beginning to pick up and was blowing about 10-15mph. I passed my car and heard a hissing noise. I first thought it was the front tire so I investigated. I couldn't narrow it down so I went on. I was returning to the house and heard it again. I then checked the back tire and found a nail in it. I repaired it and was happy I found it last night instead of 5 am this mornig in the cold and dark. I thought to myself that I was glad my hearing was good. I heard a small his from 20ft away. I have heard bugles that my hunting partner couldn't hear 2 years ago. Last year the elk were silent so good hearing was not much advantage. I am 45 and worked in loud enviroments before. I allways wore my hearing protection.

[Fridaythe13th]

I wish I had a video of me and my hunting partner he is mostly deaf and I am deaf in my right ear. I would be a fun video to watch. When a bull or turkey sound off, it's all way to my left so I have to spin around to get a better direction I he stand there looking at me wonder what the hick.
Never take your hearing for granted. PUT YOUR EAR PLUS IN

[Toby]

I'm 63 and my hearing isn't good, not only do my hunting partners hear bugles that I don't, and elk walking that I don't, but almost every time a bull bugles I will point in the complete opposite direction to where the bull is. Kind of funny except when I am hunting alone, never sure if I should head towards the bugle or run away from it. oh, and my wife really thinks I am deaf!

[Deafirishman]

I am Friday's hunting partner...it's definitely challenging when you have 1 out of the 4 ears working I did manage to hear my first ever bugle last fall in Idaho. I had to cup my hands and place them behind my ewes and I barely heard him but was very excited to finally hear one. That was one of my goals this past season. I didn't care if I was able to put an elk on the ground or not. I just wanted to hear one bugle. That truly made my hunt. I have been deaf just about my whole life and I am almost 42 now. I have never let it get in the way of my passion for hunting. Heading back out to Idaho again this fall hoping to hear another bugle. After years of rifle hunting for elk, I believe I will stick with bowhunting. Better chance if hearing another bugle I wrote an article last year regarding deaf hunters and here is the link for those interested in reading it : http://www.elk-hunting-tips.net/deaf-hunters.html. Thanks and best of luck this season !!


And yes, don't take your hearing for granted.....

[Elkduds]

I badly misinterpreted the title of this thread, your flatulence.

Also, I hear poorly in crowded or noisy settings. I hear pretty well away from vehicles and electronics. Bugles, mews, even walking elk, I hear all that.

[WapitiTalk1]

Huh? What? . I can relate.

[dapper]

Deafirishman, I read your article and have to say I applaud you for taking your situation and seeing the bright side of it. And your friends for helping you out. The part where most hunters have minutes to prepare for a shot while you have seconds really makes sense. I've definitely noticed the time for shot preparation(treestand hunting whitetails here in Wisconsin) has shortened since I don't hear them as early, especially in thick cover.
I will definitely have to lean more towards my eyesight. Kind of like hunting on a windy day.


Dan

[Deafirishman]

Thanks Dan. I appreciate the comment. If it wasn't for my friends who understand my deafness, I would not have been able to go on these dream hunts for elk. I rely on them more so than my eye sight. They are truly remarkable friends. You don't hear or read much about this topic because I believe there are a very few of us who are deaf and are very passionate about hunting. Thank you for taking the time to read the article.


Aaron