I didn't carry a 9mm on day 3 of a bow hunt for elk in Utah and hunters with dogs ran a bear into my area who was pissed off and growling. That stick and string seemed pretty impractical thinking about a charging bear. Luckily he sniffed me first and I didn't have to ward him off with an arrow and a knife.
The physical exercise that mixes climbing stairs or hills with a load and having a good pack is very good advice. I hunt with an Eberlestock x2 and use it for the first quarter haul out , then go with a Cabela's Alaskan frame pack as the meat hauler. I have rented horses a few times and that is a great way to haul out elk - can sometimes be an adventure wrangling rental horses too.
Lighter wool layers great warm boots and practicing shooting out to 400 yards + are nice but nothing pays off like being in terrific shape.
