In the mountains it's a 12 gauge slug for bears, fired from a pump shotgun with a "slug barrel" and the magazine plug removed. Grease your .44 magnum so it won't hurt as much when the bear gives it that final shove.
Or better still -- a 12 gauge "bird bomb" fired in front so s/he will get the idea s/he isn't wanted there. But load the slugs just in case.
A flare from a flare gun will also (usually) turn a bear, but watch out for starting a wild fire.