I have worked in SE Alaska and used to see bears everyday. I have 60 encounters I wrote down once, and many more that I can't recall. The responses on this thread are way ahead of others out there. The biggest caliber you can accurately shoot with bullets that will hold together is the simple answer. You cannot be overgunned when a bear with a hump closes on you full of adrenaline. A .45-70 loaded up is a good choice for some people. I like the large caliber handguns like .454 Casull and up because they are always on your person even if you are fishing. Avoiding bears is the important skill to learn. Make noise in deep brush, don't camp on a sand bar covered with tracks, don't sleep with your food etc. I was sleeping in Alberta once and woke with a sow black bear 8 inches from my head with nothing between us but mosquito netting. I know it was a sow because she came back later with 2 cubs and did it again.
