That scenario usually involves a trade-off at some level. Wearing foam plugs under electronic muffs will work if you want to hear shouted commands from a range officer, but the plugs would probably prevent you from hearing the mountain lion.
If you find a good solution, please share.
I posted this same question on several gun forums I frequent. I was hoping for some consensus of opinion but, there is none.
The opinions are all over the place. One Ruger forum I consulted even had several old timers who said they don't wear hearing protection except at the range. One guy said it's not that bad when hunting big game cause there's only one or two shots fired.
He also said duck hunting is worse because he'll fire a box of shells and he's surrounded by other shooters.
I even had one "expert" contradict himself in the same thread.
We're on our own re hearing protection, I guess.