http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/punch-in-nose-saves-man-from-polar-bear-1.939732 This story comes from Mr. Haslams predecessor Wes Werbowy in the GCHS outers program. To gain an understanding of how to survive any predator encounter you have to understand what motivates them. Its all about risk and reward. A majority of wolf attacks come from sickly animals on the risk side they have little to lose if they don't eat they will die. So not only a wounded bear but a sick bear is dangerous it's important to note their condition. A mangy sickly scrawny animal requires a lot of attention.
For the predator to make a risk assessment its understanding of what it's looking at plays a big roll. If it's familiar with humans it might see them as a predator or a source of food hence don't feed the bear's. I have been a prospector for the past 41 years and note that in more remote area's predator's are much more curious. You have to realize that they feed on moose if given the chance and you are smaller than a moose even with your canoe on your back so they check out your response to their presence. If you act like prey then they know you're on the menu. In some cases even if you don't they'll up the anti with a false charge just to see if you are bluffing so stand your ground. Have your bear banger, knife or preferably an axe ready (I always keep my brush axe with me its light and fast) and hope for the best.
Basic to keeping safe, make lots of noise, I always give trees a good wack with my axe and reblaze the port. Never clean your fish at your campsite and burn any leftover food, tins and rappers. Never eat in your tent, in parks bears can see small tents as garbage bags so if you're around dump bears use a large tent.
I have always kept my knife at my side as I sleep. keep your food away from your tent. hang it up or sealed in barrels, canoe box's or packed in bags. If you come across any critter on its last legs no matter what you'll probably have to fight it off, if your permitted a survival gun take one. in most jurisdictions if you have to dispatch a problem animal your are required to bury it.
Over all an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Sound like the biggest baddest mother in the bush. After you take that breath when you bump into a bear think pork chop that's what you taste like. if you can back away slowly, if they follow make noise and make yourself look as big as possible. Carry bear bangers and practice with them before your life depends on their use. If you put the banger behind the bear it may very well come right at you. Bear spray, remember the wind can blow it back on you and know one wants to be blinded with a pi$$ed of bear in front of them.
GUNS If you use a handgun use a 41 magnum or 44 magnum and up (45's are useless leave them home) work. In Canada if you earn income in the wilderness you can obtain a wilderness carry permit and use a hand gun. There are a number of smaller excellent 12 ga shotguns on the market with slugs or SSG will stop anything and I believe better than handguns. If you can get a prospectors licence you can have a long gun for protection 25 dollars for 5 years in Ontario. If you decide to carry a gun be proficient in their safe use. The unsafe use of a firearm is far more dangerous than anything you'll run into. The odds of running into the bear on his last legs are less than winning the lotto so good luck.
