I go out hunting with a bow in bear country and there is no way a little pointy stick will stop one of them if he wants me...
I'll go one further, I used to go out hunting with a bow for bears in bear country and never needed a little pointy stick to stop one, chit it was hard enough to sneak up on one and fling an arrow through it before they ran off!
FWIW my father in law shoots a 25-06, and his last 9 elk have been killed with it. He has options too, that's just his choice.
