I have spent a little time on Maui so I had an idea of which you were more likely to run into.

I have done a bit of hiking in NC and TN on the AT or Smoky Mountains and never been bothered by bears except almost run down by one in Cades Cove one time.

They are hunted enough there that they seem to know to stay shy of humans except in the park were they cause all kinds of trouble. Of course in the park you can’t carry anyway because the Feds would maul and chaw you a lot worse than the bear would if you did.


I would probably be content with a .357 or .44 for the bears you are likely to run into in the areas I was in.