I am 57 and my hearing is nowhere near what it used to be, construction work, welding shop noise, shooting with and without hearing protection. This coming season you will see a set of electronic muffs on my head, that is if you walk out in the woods and find me in my tree stand. I was in my tree last season and a friend of mine was a ways away, a buck was grunting and he heard it, I didnt. I want to hear those deer walking up behind my tree and a grunt from over the next hill. Really, who cares if it "looks foolish"? Its not a fashion show, its hunting!! So..I vote for hearing protection at all times.