I have had bears come up and steal fish right from behind me. For the most part they are uninterested in me. This is fortunate as most encounters are inside the reactionary gap.
The only thing I practice is a slug drill. Though loaded with slugs, I like to have the option of rolling one out and sticking in a bear banger just to change minds and influence. Really they are only good at distances where the bear is not actually a threat though.
The main problem for me is when I am on a on a portage with the canoe, the shotgun is no good if you leave it at the end of the trail so it has to come with me. It is next to impossible to portage a 60 pound canoe with a shotgun strapped to your back or flopping around so the 3 point sling was something I discovered out of necessity.
I sleep in a hammock so it is easy to have 360 degree awareness but I have also had bears come into camp in the middle of the night 15 feet from the hammock. I discovered looking for the bear with a flashlight sticking out of your mouth is a pain in the butt too.
