GleninAZ, sometime when we keep doing something we have a tendency to let our guard down, I know I do at times. Their is a lot of diference between a brown bear feeding on salmon and approaching him close, as oppose to a Griz encounter in the mountains, especially if you see each other at the same time. It happens at lightning speed. Last I year surprised a black bear sow and two cubs as we saw each other at the same time (20 yds), I like to consider myself as somewhat of a skilled woods man, but I couldn' t move, I couldn' t even yell, but I did have my pepper sray and pistol on me as the sow snatched the cubs and ran off. (I do believe in God.) Every situation is different and I highly suggest in being prepared.
AKhunter, I carry the pepper spray and sometimes a pistol, and the first thing I am grabing is the spray if I get into that situation, I have seen extensive test on sprays in dealing with bears. Does it always work? No. But, in most cases, yes it will. If your going into their environment, than be prepared and smart, you don' t have to be paranoid.
That statement about the 22 and 458, was that a typo???

Be safe folks