1. "Do you think I overreacted?"

No. You were there. I was not.

That being said, it's never a good idea to fire in the air. What goes up MUST come down. Much better to fire into the ground.

2. "What would you have done?"

Honestly, if I had left my pistol and pepper spray back at camp, I probably would have run like an . But then, I can always use more excercise.

3. "With your limited knowledge, if they really were with the forest service why didn’t they announce themselves and after I fired a gun why didn’t I get a lecture?"

Well, if somebody had approached my camp silently, and I had just fired off my gun in the air to scare off a bear I hadn't actually seen, and he had the gall to tell me: “Hey quit shooting in the air”, then I would be seriously conflicted. I guess if there was really a bear there then I would tell him to . But if I had any doubts I would probably hold my tongue.

But I certaintly wouldn't take his word for it that he was with "the forest service".

Regards, Vince