Good article Guy,
Last year I was stalked by a Gray Wolf while hunting in Montana and had a fellow I met from Canada that was staying at the same Outfitter who gave up his primary hunting area because a bear was crisscrossing and cutting his trail seeing very fresh signs like muddy water in a mud puddle.
There had been a bow hunter mauled during bow season close to where I was hunting last year also.
After the wolf encounter and the bear story I always carried the rifle loaded with one in the chamber and the safety on since it was always in my hands and I could get it into action faster then I could bear spray which I had with me also.