Living in Montana and hiking, I have three layers of defense...from the bears, no protecting yourself from the tourists. I have a waist pack with two drink holders. In one, on my right so I can reach it quick is a small boathorn and next to it is bear spray. They fit perfect. Those are my first two layers.
Friends turned me on to the boathorn. Interested bears or mountain lions (those who don't run right off and seem curious) or Moose you might stumble across will usually scoot fast from the boat horn. If they come too close, you are already in trouble but bear spray supposedly worksover 95% of the time. Finally, is the GP100 357. I don't always carry it. But, I am not sure if I would use it on myself or the bear come to think of it. My significant other chooses to count on the fact that she can outrun me as her primary defense.
Every other year, I practice with the can of bear spray I've been carrying for two years and then put the new one in the pack. Always aim at the bears belly. They shoot high and do your best to be upwind from the spray although I wouldn't let that get in the way. A little capcasin (sic) is better than a whole lot of bear. I've pulled the boathorn out twice never used it (one bear, one moose) and never had a need to go to the second or third levels of defense. I've seen fresh cat tracks and bear tracks in mud (fresh enough that the water had ye to fill them). So, it is a real thing up here. Makes life interesting.
