I always have a backup with me whether I'm bear hunting or bear baiting. When I'm baiting it's a 12 ga. with slugs. When I'm hunting with a bow it's a 44 mag. I've had one bear get ahold of me and that will never happen again (I hope)!!! As far as I'm concerned, the only difference between a black, brown or grizzly, once you're down is, 2, 4 or 8 bites to finish you. And yeah, you better check where you're hunting and see if a firearm is legal while you are bow hunting.