Back in the 50"s my Dad took me to several outdoor shows where Fred Bear put on a program. I remember thinking "that guy has some huge cajones". I also remember that he said he always had a guide backing him up with a rifle. I remember he said that he took a seal skin and wrapped up in it and laid down near a hole on the ice so he looked like a seal. Seals are one of the main foods of Polar Bears. When the bear came close enough looking for dinner, he got up and shot it. My Dad also had a Bear recurve that he shot several deer with.
He was awesome, at least to a teenager!