[riverrunner]

Better yet carry a high quality firearm.

https://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2019/03/pistols-or-handguns-95-effective-when.html

Or both firearms are more effective against bears.

https://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2019/04/nine-cases-where-both-bear-spray-and.html

[Paladin2]

"All methods of defense against bears have similar problems of access. A handgun or bear spray in a pack, or a rifle slung over the shoulder without a round in the chamber, should not be counted as a use of the method to defend against bears. All of the methods can be carried for easy access. It is not a fault of the method if the user did not have them available for use, or if the attack was too quick to allow use. "

Remind me to root out a .45-70 1894 ...., I suspect they work well on Mt. Lions too.