I ordered a set of "SoundGear by La Pierre", made by Starkey Hearing Technology, a very established hearing aid company. This unit is very tiny, fits in the ear canal in the same way a good set of non-electronic plugs would fit. The sales guy suggested the "industrial" labeled version rather than the "hunting " labeled one. He subtly suggested that the amount of sound increase with the hunting version may not be what most of us would prefer (too loud). I never tried the "hunting" version but like this "industrial" sound value quite well.
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Most often in recent years I wear non-electronic plugs when hunting but only at the critical moment. And if I'm hunting with a partner, the plugs reduce the ability to communicate.
I tried them for fit and comfort and was pleased. In fact I wore them for a couple hours and by that time had forgotten I had them on.
Then this morning I went out to my friend's place to try a shooting test. He was quite interested since he had tried one of the type that consists of a tube that connects a plug to an electronics "module". The module mounts behind the ear, the tube holds the plug inside the ear canal. It wasn't the Walker's Game Ear version, it was Radians. He didn't like that style of unit since he couldn't keep it on in certain situations.
The example he gave was when lying down in one of those coffin style goose blinds. While waiting for birds, prone on his back, he needs to be able to hear very well. And he needs the unit to not fall out because the module was bumped loose.
I had tried the similar Walker's behind-the-ear version a few years ago and did not like it at all. It didn't cut off enough sound for one thing. In fact, seeing that there is a plastic tube connecting the electronics to the plug which goes into the ear I don't know how any of that style can keep sound from traveling along the tube into the ear canal. Anyway, we'd both be willing to sell those respective units for about $2 each if you're interested.
Too often "cheap" is not really a good value. Buying once and buying well is what I try to do though too many times I fail the first try.
Anyway, the shooting test today was a big success and my quest has ended! I can't wait to hunt coyotes with them in a couple weeks. Imagine you park the truck at your first set of the day and get your rifle and other stuff ready. I insert my 2 SoundGear electronic units and off we go.
I can hear the sounds a little louder with these units. Enough louder to be helpful but not enough to be obnoxious.
So that set is over, you head back to the truck, put your stuff in the truck --- leave your "ears" in place and drive to the next set. Simple, comfortable, effective.
You could hunt coyotes all day without fussing over them. You can whisper to your hunt partner, you can hear the distant, faint high pitched coyote vocalizations. You can hear the swish of wings and the scratch of something walking in leaves.
These are so good that I'll probably decide to sell them in the LRH Store.
I should be able to sell them for much less than the price shown below.
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This "quest' experience is exactly how some of the best LRH Store products have come to be in the store.
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Batteries last a week and are very cheap.
By the way, NRA has licensed the La Pierre name and NRA gets a cut of sales from the manufacturer. That's a good thing, especially these days.
