Magicpaddler wrote on Oct 11^th, 2019 at 1:33pm:

I have shot a lot of deer and I would think a bear is as tough as a deer as far as being able to keep going after being shot.  I’m a good shot and have put a 12 Gauge slug through the heart of several deer.  It is common for a deer to run 100 yards after having a slug put through their heart.  My point is I do not think a bear will just die instantly after being shot. If you do hit him in the heart he is going to be mad and excited for several minutes.  Spine shots generally stop an animal and drop them in their tracks. Place your shots carefully gentleman.

  I've seen the same thing. Those deer are running on adrenaline/nerves, like a chicken with its head cut off.

  Big Game guides that take clients after dangerous game often carry a rifle that is way more powerful than the one the client is able to shoot accurately.

The reason is they need that KNOCKDOWN power, which literally knocks the animal to the ground. Killing something isn't the same as stopping it at close range. The Inuit people are known to hunt/kill Polar bears with calibers considered suitable for varmints. Stalk close and shoot them in the head.

Since the game laws say you can't kill a bear unless it's right upon you, more than likely your going to go for a headshot. The right ammo to pierce that thick skull will drop them like a rock.

Of course under stress that isn't an easy thing to do.

  If it were me, I'd have both Bear Spray and a shotgun. IF possible I would hit them with the Bear Spray and follow that up with a NON-LETHAL load from the shotgun.

They make hard rubber 00 Buckshot/Slugs that hurt like hell but do no long term damage. You want that bear to FEAR humans and leave the area.

That couple in M_M story kept the bear off them but it destroyed their canoe and left them stranded. That extra hurt from non-lethal rounds would have probably driven it far off. Bears are smart. Once they relate humans to pain, they'll steer clear. Good for the humans, better for the bear as nuisance bears get killed by the game wardens.