The National Park Service advises these outdoor tourists that “using a firearm during a bear attack may only worsen the attack.” Bear spray holsters or clips are a good idea when you’re hiking in bear country“An injured bear will be more aggressive, especially during a fight,” the official NPS advice continues. “It’s also harder to hit a charging bear with a firearm rather than bear spray, and a firearm can be dangerous to any hiking partners. The Park Service asserts that bear spray is “easy to use without much experience, and it’s a highly effective tool for deterring bear attacks.” In many cases with bear spray, the bear kept coming back.