It seems like this thread comes back prior to hunting season each year as it seems we just recently answered this same question earlier, but sense you ask, here my two cents.
Beaver, #6 does not apply to Blackies, but only Griz. When approached by a Blackie, yell at it, wave your arms and try to be the dominate creature. Don' t do this with the Griz encounter as you want to appear meek, humble and inferior in its presense. You are dealing with two different type bears and both treated totally different. I live in the Kootenai National Forest just at the base of Glacier National Park and I have had several black bear encounters with bears seeing me at the same time and once a sow that had two cubs that I encountered at 20 yrds dureing bow season, most black bears will avoid an encounter if an exit route is availiable. A Griz has a personel space of something like 50-75 yds away, if you are within this perameter, you are in immediate danger. You will know real quik if bear are pesent because of the amount of scat/signs in the area, and if there is, then you need to be bear-aware. Since I live in Griz/Black bear country, a pistol and bear spray are all standard equiptment, even if its not used it gives me a sense of assurance and confidence needed at times. You never know when you may have to put an animal down such as feral dogs or such if need to be. I' d rather have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
I made a post last year about a friend of mine that was attacked by a griz while he was hunting, in what he thought was a moose he kicked out of a bed turned out to be a Griz Sow with a cub at 30 yrds, the griz charged Chris and then took the cub to safety and came back at Chris one more time, lightning fast speed and at point blank range he fell back and shot the griz with his 7 mag. The bear fell dead. Chris got law enforcement. Biologist and feds investagated the site and bear, Chris was not prosecuted as they found evidence of powder burns being on the bear and it was a justifiable shooting. I asked him later, " What if you had bear spray?" His repley was, " You got a 7mag and bear spray, stick with what works."
But if you do, you better make sure your life is endanger.
Due to the overwheming amount of non-residents shooting Griz thinking they' ll black bears, all non-residents and residents are required to take a bear identifacation test prior to receiveing there bear permit.
I am not trying to make you feel paronoid, but just go prepared and be aware of your surroundings, just as you would if your hunting in snake country. Bobby