I carry a side arm when bow hunting,I carry a S&W 41 mag or my Ruger 44 mag.I to hunt the cross over area's here in Montana,whether it's the Bob or the Gallitan it don't matter.I also carry one for cat's and meth burners in the mountains.I don't so much carry it to stop a bear,but while it's dragging my carcass around I hope to get a shot.A pistol is a poor excuse to stop a bear,and about the only time is when it's so close,well you might as well hold it in your hands and just befor it plows you over pull the trigger.
I have had 3 bear encounters on bluff's,all three with in a day of each other, it scares the life outa ya.I no longer hunt that area,and a year later a man was mauled and killed in the same area.
BBJ