11/08/2019- The woods of Wisconsin and Michigan will soon be filled with hunters for the annual gun-deer season and local health officials are reminding hunters to take care to protect their hearing during this time. The shot of a rifle or shotgun is approximately 140 decibels, about the equivalent of standing next to a jet engine and sounds at this noise level can cause instant and permanent hearing loss. Doctors say the only want to prevent hearing damage is to wear ear protection, whether that’s a custom-fit system designed at an audiology clinic or using generic ear plugs. Symptoms of hearing losing include feelings of pressure or fullness in ears, a ringing sounds in ears when in a quiet place, or difficulty hearing when background noise is present.