As a “forest ranger” (a forester that works on a state forest) I carry as part of my job but do not carry while hiking. We do have bears here in SC but I would be more concerned with wild hogs. It would take a .357 or larger and a good shot to stop a largeish charging animal, weight I can’t justify. Deer kill more people than bears and snakes and bees kill more people than any other animal. Now an untrained person totting a gun would be scary if attacked by a swarm.