We simply can't hear each other because of the damage done from the sounds of shooting rifles, pistols and shotguns.

Hearing protection was readily available when we were young shooters. We wore foam ear plugs or ear muffs - and sometimes both, if we were smart - on the rifle and trap ranges. Most of the time.

Sadly, hearing protection wasn't an option for hunting.

"In the old days, I'm ashamed to say I recommended not wearing hearing protection while hunting," said hearing expert Bob Walker of Media, Pa. "We felt it was more dangerous not to be able to hear a rattlesnake, a warning or another hunter. And we wanted to be able to hear the steps of a deer or the gobble of a distant wild turkey."

Hunters thought one shot wouldn't make a difference. We were wrong.

"Every time you pull the trigger without protection, you are damaging your hearing," said Walker. "Each and every shot adds up."

A hearing health care specialist, Walker developed the Bob Walker's Game Ear in 1989 to solve the problem of hearing protection for hunters. Walker's Game Ear was designed to hear the subtle sounds of the woods while it dampened the harsh report of a firearm to protect a hunter's hearing.

Most of us remember the significant insults to our hearing. Mine was a fellow hunter firing a shotgun so close to my head while in a goose blind that my ears rang for the rest of the day. There was also an impromptu shooting session with a .45-caliber pistol when ear plugs weren't available, another ear-ringing experience.

Even if you are older, wiser and ready to be fitted for hearing aids, ear protection is still mandatory to prevent further hearing loss.

The original Walker's Game Ear consisted of a foam piece inserted in the ear with a tube that led to a electronic device resting behind the ear. The basic unit remains the same and, surprisingly, still provides the most protection.

"The foam unit that fits inside the ear blocks the maximum amount of damaging sound with a noise reduction rating [NRR] of 29 decibels [dB] to 33 dB," said Walker.

"The ear muff system blocks slightly less sound with a NRR of 27 dB to 29 dB."

The higher the decibel rating, the better the ear protection of the unit. There are units that fit into the ear much like a modern hearing aid that also dampen loud noises. Even with a perfect fit, they are rated well below 20 dB.

"A foam ear plug or good ear muffs are the key to protection," said Walker.

Walker's new digital units are far more expensive. They amplify a crisper, cleaner sound, but at a price. The original Game Ear and Game Ear Muffs sell for $150 from the Cabela's catalog. The Quad Muff with stereo sound is $200 and the new Digital Game Ear is $400.

"If you shoot right-handed, the Game Ear works best in the left ear," said Walker. "Many guides and active shooters use two Game Ears to better pinpoint sounds such as a gobbling turkey."

For information on Walker's Game Ear hearing protection visit www.walkersgameear.com or call 1-800-424-1069.

By D'Arcy Egan