How to protect your hearing

Tomáš Prachař

27.03.2025

We focused on hearing protection during hunting. In the article, we outline the available options and discuss their pros and cons.

Hearing protection while hunting hasn’t received much attention in the past, but more and more hunters now consider some form of it a standard. In this article, we’ll look at what options are available, break down their pros and cons, and introduce our favorite.

The importance of hearing protection at the shooting range, where much more shooting occurs than during hunting and you're usually not alone, probably doesn't need much emphasis. Even if you use a suppressor, you still need at least earplugs—ideally, a solid pair of earmuffs. In the following sections, we’ll focus on hearing protection in hunting scenarios, which can be divided into five mutually combinable types. When choosing, it will depend on how much you want to protect your hearing, how much you're willing to invest, how you can adapt your gear, and what downsides you’re ready to accept with each option. We can’t decide for you, but we’ll outline possible approaches, what to expect, and what we use ourselves.

Title photo: Earmuffs, electronic earplugs, standard foam plugs, or a suppressor. What’s your choice?

Suppressor

Setting aside the mechanical operation and aerodynamic crack (see box), the primary source of gunshot noise is the rapid expansion of hot gases under high pressure exiting the muzzle. This is the loudest part of the shot, and at the muzzle it can reach 170–180 dB. Suppressors are designed to reduce this specific component. The sound from a shot isn’t evenly distributed and varies by caliber, but just for reference—without a suppressor, a shooter is exposed to about 160 dB per shot, whereas with a suppressor, this can drop to around 120 dB at the shooter’s ear and 130 dB in the immediate vicinity. On paper that may not seem like much, but remember: decibels follow a logarithmic scale, so even small numerical differences mean a significant change. Subjectively, it’s a massive difference for the shooter, their hearing health, and for those nearby. If you hunt with a four-legged partner, the suppressor also protects their ears, nerves, and reduces stress.

Additionally, when shooting near residential areas, suppressors help avoid disturbing local residents—especially during night hunts. Hunters no longer enjoy the same societal support they once did, so minimizing friction with the public is worthwhile. Lower noise also reduces stress on game animals in the area. Suppressors are now legal and widely available in a broad range of quality, effectiveness, price, size, and weight. As far as rifle specifics go, you only need a threaded barrel. Opinions on suppressors vary, but it’s fair to say that during solo hunts, a high-quality suppressor can provide sufficient hearing protection without needing any additional gear. Yes, your ears are still under significant strain, but you can function long-term with this setup—even though it’s not something that can be unconditionally recommended. For driven or group hunts, it’s wise to complement a suppressor with at least a pair of earplugs.

Weaknesses of Suppressors

Suppressors have their downsides. First, as already mentioned, they do not offer complete hearing protection—something that might not be sufficient for some shooters. Then there’s the financial aspect. A decent suppressor can be found for around CZK 7,000, but prices can easily double or triple if you want higher performance or additional features. Suppressors also add maintenance work. Cleaning a suppressor without specialized tools is a rather lengthy and messy task, though some high-end models are built to be nearly maintenance-free. For instance, mounting a BeeSilent Long suppressor on a CZ 557 with a “classic” 610 mm barrel would give you an overall rifle length of nearly 1400 mm. That’s extremely unwieldy, especially in a hunting blind, and very front-heavy. Supporting it for longer periods during aiming becomes difficult without a rest. This is why many choose to offset the added suppressor length by going with a shorter barrel.

Another potential issue is compatibility between the suppressor and the muzzle threading. But the main concerns are the added dimensions and weight. Over-barrel suppressors may reduce the added length slightly, but you still have to account for a bulkier, more front-heavy, and less maneuverable rifle. Therefore, if you plan to use a suppressor as standard gear, consider buying a rifle with a shorter barrel length. Yes, that means sacrificing some velocity, but common hunting calibers usually have enough margin to handle that. True, not every cartridge performs well with a short barrel—but careful powder selection during handloading can help compensate for this. You don’t need to worry about increased muzzle flash, which often accompanies short barrels and factory ammo combinations—a suppressor can effectively eliminate that problem.

A suppressor’s disadvantage lies in its size and weight, but in return you don’t need additional hearing protection and reduce sound impact on your surroundings.

Controls are handled by a pair of small buttons, or you can fine-tune the ATACS via the mobile app.

The in-ear component doesn’t look very anatomical, but it’s available in multiple sizes and the material adapts well to the ear canal.

Earplugs, Earmuffs, and Electronic Hearing Protection

In addition to suppressing sound, a shooter can protect their hearing with dedicated hearing protection—either earmuffs or earplugs, in both traditional passive and active electronic forms. Standard soft foam earplugs can offer some degree of protection from the worst noise levels, but in the long run, they’re not the most effective solution. On the range, earmuffs offer better protection, and plugs can be used as a secondary layer underneath the ear cups. In the field, due to the low shot count, earplugs are often considered a sufficient, compact, and budget-friendly option. Just make sure to choose a certified hearing protection type, ideally connected with a neck cord, so they’re readily accessible. You’ll typically want to insert them right before the shot, once you have visual contact with the target. Wearing them throughout the entire hunt reduces your hearing sensitivity unnecessarily—and some people find extended wear uncomfortable.

An alternative is traditional full-size over-ear hearing protectors, which provide stronger sound attenuation and last practically forever. However, they’re too bulky, heavy, and restrictive for hunting, and limit situational awareness even more than earplugs. A better option is to invest in electronic earmuffs with active sound suppression, which block out gunfire but still allow you to hear—and even amplify—ambient sounds. However, they’re large, and definitely not cheap. The final option, and the one we recommend, is electronic earplugs. These combine the best of both worlds: strong attenuation, reliable protection even on the shooting range, compact dimensions, and active ambient sound transmission or amplification (with the exception of gunfire). Their market availability is somewhat limited, but there are viable options. In the following section, we’ll focus on the ATACS model from the renowned brand Walkers, which we subjected to a thorough, multi-month test in the field and on the range, using a wide variety of firearms.

A Compromise Without Compromise

The first clear advantage is the size. ATACS are significantly smaller and lighter than traditional over-ear shooting earmuffs, so they easily fit under a cap, hat, or hood. The surface is rubberized, which means they don’t slip, even with wet fingers. The build quality is solid and robust overall. I have no concerns regarding durability or lifespan, and of course, you can count on the unit being water-resistant.

One of the most important parameters is comfort during long-term wear. This is naturally somewhat subjective, but speaking for myself and a colleague who also participated in testing, I can say they’re very comfortable—even after extended use, there’s no pressure or discomfort. You’ll soon forget you’re even wearing ATACS, even though they’re obviously larger than passive foam plugs. Thanks to the behind-the-ear hooks, they won’t fall out. I also use them for running outside of hunting, and I have zero complaints. The package includes a set of eartips in various sizes, so you can pick what fits best. You’ll also find a charging cable in the box, and thanks to the USB-C port, they can be charged using nearly any phone charger—including car adapters or power banks, which is especially useful for hunting. Battery life is decent. The manufacturer claims 7.5 hours of operation. In cold autumn conditions, we got just under an hour less, but it was still more than sufficient for most hunting scenarios. And even if the battery dies, the plugs will still function as passive hearing protection, offering full ear protection. It's also worth noting that the unit will automatically power off after 4 hours of inactivity.

In today’s world, everything comes with a smartphone app, and ATACS are no exception. The Walker’s Link 4.0 app is simple, intuitive, and functional. It allows you to adjust modes and volume via Bluetooth, check battery status, and even stream music from your phone. While sound quality won’t impress audiophiles, it’s more than enough for general use—I even use them for sports.

If your battery runs out, you can recharge the ATACS via a power bank, or use them as passive hearing protection.

ATACS plugs are very comfortable to wear. There’s no pressure, even after all-day use, and even sports activities won’t shake them loose.

“In practice, this means that every rustle in the vegetation is clearly audible, which gives you an advantage during still-hunting or ambush hunting, as you know something is approaching!”

Both parts are connected by a cable, which ensures synchronization and allows you to hang the plugs around your neck.

Modes That Matter

The clear voice mode enhances human speech, which is especially useful during group hunts or at the shooting range, where communication with your team is crucial. The universal mode provides an accurate, unmodified audio passthrough. For solo hunts, the power boost and high-frequency boost modes are ideal, as they amplify ambient sounds. You’ll clearly hear things that would otherwise be barely audible. The system also provides limited but effective stereo sound reproduction, helping you localize the direction of incoming noise. It’s not perfect—you can still tell it’s electronically processed—but the noise suppression function works excellently, and overall performance is impressive. In real-world conditions, it means you can clearly hear every rustle in the brush, giving you a real advantage whether you’re still-hunting or waiting in a stand, as you’ll be able to detect game approaching. For hunters with diminished hearing, this can help offset their disadvantage. Power boost amplifies all sounds equally, while high-frequency boost emphasizes higher tones—like the crack of a twig. If a gunshot or any sound exceeds a certain decibel threshold, the microphones will not transmit it to your ears. Of course, you’ll still hear the shot—no earplug can block everything—but the official noise reduction rating (NRR) is 24 dB, which in practice results in a safe and comfortable experience.

Lastly, if you’re looking for something even more compact, Walker’s also offers the Disrupter Earbuds, which are indistinguishable from regular “civilian” wireless earbuds. They provide the same functionality as ATACS, but their size and handling are a bit impractical for hunting, battery life is shorter, and the price is higher (CZK 8,145).

Advantages/ Disadvantages ATACS

+ compact size

+ comfortable fit, non-obstructive

+ effective sound attenuation

+ genuinely useful features

- higher price

Verdict

Naturally, everything has its downsides, and with ATACS, it's more about minor details. The advantage of the compact size comes at the cost of limited space for control buttons on the plugs themselves—though this can be worked around using the app. Switching modes requires a combination of button presses. The buttons are also small, which makes them harder to operate with winter gloves. Sound transmission quality noticeably drops in strong wind (though still within a usable range), but that’s a general issue with in-ear hearing protection. Another small drawback is that they feel slightly looser on the ears than I’d like. In dense brush, I’d worry about a branch knocking them off, although it hasn’t happened once, even during sports use. So perhaps it’s an unfounded fear—and even if it did occur, the user would immediately notice, so the risk of losing them is low. These are truly minor nitpicks. What might be more limiting for some is the price point of CZK 5,430, which, while on the higher side for this category, is actually very reasonable given the performance and capabilities of the unit. For all types of hunting, it’s an ideal choice that either complements or even replaces a suppressor. And unless you're frequently training indoors, the ATACS will serve perfectly well as a substitute for over-ear hearing protection.

Subsonic Ammunition

It’s worth adding that noise can be reduced even further if a suppressor is combined with subsonic ammunition. However, aside from a handful of special cartridges like 8.6mm Blackout or .458 SOCOM, this often means sacrificing performance below the legal minimum in some regions. That said, in real-world practice it’s a different story—for example, with a .300 Blackout subsonic load, combined with an appropriate bullet and used at reasonable distances, hunting can be done without issue. Still, subsonics are a specialty topic, best left for a separate article.

Another issue with suppressors is tedious baffle cleaning, or the high price of models that don’t require regular maintenance.

ATACS, like other products from the Walkers brand, can be purchased from STROBL.CZ s.r.o. More information is available at strobl.cz or directly from the manufacturer at walkersgameear.com

Photo Sources: Author’s Archive

Author: Tomáš Prachař

This article was originally published in Lovec magazine by Extra Publishing

How to protect your hearing

Děkujeme!

Basket contains not allowed items

Shopping cart is empty

The article was added to comparison

Cookies

Pro zobrazení tohoto obsahu potřebujeme váš souhlas!