Many years ago, when in US Army Basic Training, we recruits were issued ear plugs in a small plastic “pill bottle”. They didn’t fit well, and I don’t remember any Drill Instructor ever trying to enforce their use. Most of us didn’t use them, and we shot a lot with our M-14’s.
Later in life I shot a lot of rifles and handguns without any hearing protection. Even later in life, I started wearing muffs because I realized I was getting hard of hearing. I now have to wear hearing aids if I want to converse with others. And hearing aids don’t work nearly as good as my born-with ears, either in directionality or outside noise control such as wind!
Do whatever is necessary to protect your hearing, even while hunting. You will be very thankful you did, later in life!
