As noted, keep state firearms law in mind. In NJ carrying without the proper creds earns you a go straight to jail card even if you’re licensed in other states. If you do have the right paperwork then you’d better know how to use it for the situation you are carrying for, that means practice, practice, practice that goes for all other means of self defense including bear spray, knife, stick whatever. Bears are FAST. Therefore the best protection is prevention. Practice leave no trace, good camp hygiene, make a little noise in dense brush and near blind corners etc. As an aside, I sometimes wear a bell on my pack. It’s not necessarily for bears, more for hunters when hiking on state game lands (in addition to high vis clothing). I’ve noticed that some hunters put a bell on their dogs and seems like a simple enough thing to do.
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