This is an interesting subject.

I do (5" .45 LC and a .22 derringer) pack/carry when fishing Montana and my son carries his government approved/furnished Bear Spray depending on where we are fishing.

He has worked in the Glacier National Park for better than 15 years running wetland field studies and never once has he or his team had to use the bear spray that I'm aware of.

The LC hasn't been used but the derringer has many times to disperse with snakes. Having been bit three times (Pacific Red once and Diamondbacks twice) I think I'm sometimes a snake attractor and I dispatch
them quickly with bird shot.