I have hunted in SW Virginia in bear country for almost 20 years and have yet to see one. Would love to see one but not up real close.
My younger brother has seen one and his ex-wife shot one with a crossbow. They were deer hunting together and a bear came in on his wife while she was in a ground blind. It paced around about 15 yds out and was working his way closer. She decided to make the first move and shot him. He ran about 20 yds and dropped. It was bear season though so I don't know what she would have done if it wasn't bear season. I have a pretty good guess though.
