hearing protection

I love hunting with my 44, but I cant hear where the deer are.
I got a pair of amplification headphones with cut off.
But I cant tell which direction anything is?
Was bad tonight as I heard something running in (it was a dog) but I was frantically scanning where it was coming from.
Thought it was in front of me, was to my right.
Part of it is I have hearing loss in my left ear anyway.

Any advice?

I've used some of the electronic headphones before, but like you said, you can't hear which direction the sound is coming from, and they become uncomfortable to wear after a while.

What I do is carry a set of headphones and put them on prior to shooting. It's cost me a shot on a deer before, but I'd rather lose my shot opportunity than my hearing.

l dont big game hunt with ear muffs...l need to know where the game sounds are,,plus,,l get rush when pulling the trigger on a deer.. l cant really remember HEARING the gun on a big game shot... l do use them while shooting prairie dogs because of the number of rounds.. l dont use them while shooting my 17HMR on ground squirrels. When target shooting l use muffs and plugs

I've used pro-ears predator gold version for quite a while and don't have that problem. They aren't the best for range work but the best I've used for hunting. They aren't cheap but comparable to top-shelf electronic ear pro.

I use Howard Leight Impact Sport. They do make it a little tougher for directional sound, but if you slowly swivel your head you can pinpoint direction. They work kind of like vision if it's in the field in front of you you can hear direction well, but if it's outside of that you have to move the mics toward the sound. Also, the loss in detecting direction as easily is made up for in sound amplification. That's aside from the obvious not losing your hearing. It doesn't cut out the sound of the gun shot, but makes it quieter. I can differentiate the sound of different loads/guns.

Not having the directional problems would be cool. Gary do your's function similarly when it comes to hearing shots and amplification?

I've tried regular ear muffs, electronic muffs, electronic "ear buds", and the cheap foam disposable ear plugs. The muffs are bulky and cumbersome to don/doff and the "buds" are uncomfortable and easily lost (my first pair is still somewhere out in the woods after a single morning hunt), and both the electronic "buds" and muffs don't allow you to pinpoint the location/direction of sound, which is kinda important when hunting. I've settled on the disposable plugs. If I see game and have a few seconds to slip them in, which is most of the time, great. If not, I shoot sans protection. Everything's a trade-off.

Some electronic earmuffs have a single microphone and a single volume control. As a consequence you'll never get the stereo effect and therefore will be unable to judge sound direction.

Look for models that feature separate microphones for left and right. That way you'll retain stereo hearing and be able to tell direction.

Lately I've been using Pro Ear Pro Tac Mag Gold. Very expensive but the best earmuffs I've ever used. Previously I used (still keep them in the truck as a spare) a set of Peltor Tactical 6-S. Both the Pro Ears and the Peltor had separate left & right microphones and allowed me to detect sound direction. I also had a set of generic electronic muffs given to me for range work. They only had one microphone and are useless for picking up direction.

Gget a set of foam plugs with a stem and a string. Pass the string through the top button hole on shirt. It takes a few seconds to push them into your ears. Usually dont need to wait to expand. They are cheap but do their job. Hearing once lost is gone forever, protect it as much as possible.

I like the pro ears predator gold as well. My wife liked them as well, and ended up with a pair also. They have a separate mic and volume control on each side. We have found it pretty easy to pin point sound direction with these. I have partial loss in my left ear as well, so I turn up the volume slightly on that side, then I'm good to go.

They do get to be an irritation after almost a full day of hunting, but I suppose anything would. They've worked for us, and although a bit pricey, they have been well worth the money.

X2 on this. I can hear directional noise very well. My only problem I hunt hear some grain bins/driers and the muffs amplifie that to much if its running. But other than that I won't go out without them

I carry the foam ear plugs all the time. I use the vacuming, in the wood shop, even in movie theaters sometimes. I've used loud stuff all my life, and recently wore them 60+hrs a week because I'd rather hear my grandkids than loud machines.
But I hunt open eared. I just need the input. I hunt small areas and it is mostly ear work. Not just hearing something, but knowing if it is deer or squirrel. If I stop a deer with an open ear shot, I'll finish them with plugged ears.
As to the 'not hearing' the kill shot, yes, you don't hear it, but the damage is no different to your ear. That is a process of the brain, not the ear.
Be safe, and have fun,
Dogsbreath

Dillion electronic ears have individual volume controls, easily replaced batteries and slim profile. Squirrels now scare me to death LOL.