Newbie from Oregon

We digressed some from my introduction. With that said I can tell you from personal experience that pepper spray is a better deterrent than a gun and statistics prove it. Unless you Annie Oakley and you can hit a charging bear between the eyes ( and I bet most of us are not) your only going to make the situation much worse. I have been in close proximity to many bears and the best defense is proper behavior in bear country. Check out some of my bear photos at www.riverclick.com

Originally posted by Leo B I can tell you from experience working with the RCMP and Quebec Provincial Police, you definitely do not want to be crossing the border (hiding a handgun in your camper or vehicle) it is a five year felony if you get caught smuggling a handgun. They take it very seriously. You can get a permit very easily to bring a long rifle /shotgun across you just have to declare it and fill out the form and pay a small tax. Instead of bringing a gun, you can buy bear strength pepper spray which will do the trick in a pinch. On the trip you would want to buy the pepper spray once you got to Alaska, you do not want to bring it through the border either. If you have it , you must declare it and they will take it. So buy it in Alaska and return it if you do not use it. The bear stuff is much stronger that the regular pepper spray carried by police and it will definitely deter a bear if it gets that close.

I think the intent was not only for bear protection.

I would recommend a 12 gauge short barrel shotgun with a mix of slugs and buckshot shells.  My preference would be a 20 inch barrel 870 with an extended mag.  You can't carry concealed but you won't go to jail.