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I think that scenario might be distracting enough to cause you to loose track of gun and bullets at just the crucial moment

An unloaded gun is just a really expensive CLUB ;D
Worse case scenario. You awaken one night to a bear tearing into your tent and grabbing you in your sleeping bag intent on dragging you into the woods for a late night snack
Now that pile of rocks isn't going to do much good then, or that 5' club.
I keep my Bear Spray standing tall in my camp shoe near my side. Yes, the Bear Spray in a confined area is going to get me too, but I figure I have at least a small chance to hold my breath and close my eyes before unleashing it point blank into Yogi's face/eyes.
Better yet, I grab my LOADED pistol grip shotgun and put a slug into his brain pan/chest area. A magnum pistol with the right ammo would be even better at point blank range.
Next best after Gun, where legal or Bear Spray, is sinking my camp knife into it's eye socket or ear canal and hopefully into it's brain.
Not a pretty scenario but the getting eaten alive is a far worse one.
This year they had a couple of fatal bear attacks in the paper close to each other.
I didn't recall reading/hearing about whether or not they had Bear Spray or a firearm? I don't think they had either.
I always wonder what they must been thinking when they knew they were going to be attacked, probably killed?
Do you think they thought it was part of the risk/reward of going into the wilderness and so be it, or did they wish they had some Bear Spray or a firearm and at least a fighting chance.
I'll go with the Spray and Gun ;)