Step one: Put your head between your legs
Step two: Kiss your a$$ goodbye

1.) Carry bear pepper spray. Experts recommend that hikers in bear country carry with them bear pepper spray. Bear pepper spray is a highly concentrated capsaicin spray that creates a large cloud. This stuff will usually stop a bear in it’s tracks.
2.) Don’t run. When you run, the bear thinks you’re prey and will continue chasing you, so stand your ground. And don’t think you can out run a bear. Bears are fast. They can reach speeds of 30 mph.
3.) Drop to the ground in the fetal position and cover the back of your neck with your hands. If you don’t have pepper spray or the bear continues to charge even after the spray, this is your next best defense. Hit the ground immediately and curl into the fetal position.
4.) Play dead. Grizzlies will stop attacking when they feel there’s no longer a threat. If they think you’re dead, they won’t think you’re threatening. Once the bear is done tossing you around and leaves, continue to play dead. Grizzlies are known for waiting around to see if their victim will get back up.

Pepper Spray ...

http://www.udap.com/

hold your breath, turn around, take your time, aim and shoot it dead, dont miss or your toast

My answer was confusing - I agree with steve182, lay on stomach, hands behind neck, and play possum with a brown. Fight back a black, same with a cat.

Don't remove your backpack if you have one, it can help protect you. If it is a grizzly, there is no reason to fight it will just make him/her kill you and eat you faster, play dead on your stomach and play dead as others have described. While this is a good method it is not guaranteed an encounter with the wrong grizzly/brown bear will still sometimes result in being killed and eaten alive. Regarding a black bear attack experts now agree; fight for your life unlike grizzlies when these bears attack(though not as often as grizzlies do as a percentage of their total population)it is usually to hunt you and eat you not to size up a threat.

dpends what kind of bear. if its a brown bear drop and play dead if its a black bear run away or turn around and shoot.thats what i was told by aold wise hunter.

Throw it a jar of honey! That one in my kids Hundred Acre Woods books sure seemed to like it! LOL

One of those situations where you need to be able to think on your feet. Having a firearm or bear spray would be a good start, if not, and it charges climb a tree, find a club, throw rocks, yell, make yourself look as big and mean as possible, just fight to survive, I am not a big fan of the play dead idea, unless it is on you and you have no other choice, then maybe give that a try.

agree with steve!!

you cannot outrun a bear, most bear attacks end when the person stops fighting. You should curl up into a fetal position, protecting your face, and be as still as possible. The odds are the bear is attacking you because you were near its fresh kill, or you were near its cubs. It doesnt want to eat you. When in bear country, occasionally holler out, or wear bells.

Well, 2Poppa, and cardo111- Kudos boys-
They covered most all you can do if encountered by a bear-1st step DON'T PANIC(Easier said then done)-AS A RULE, the drop fetal position for Grizz is recommended..while with Blackies--It's FIGHT with what you have or can grab as a weapon! What I have read from experts(ie people who have been charged by bears) is to NOT RUN,face the bear, not looking directly at it since eye contact is considered a threat, but back away slowly while lifting your arms above your head telling the bear to get otta here! MOST bears will avoid human contact but there are always excepts to the rule!
Prevention is key to avoid contact all together, such as talking loudly or wearing bells on your backpack, let the bears know you are there!
It has been documented in Grizz attacks to climb a tree when charged people have survived...but make sure to not climb a small one(for fear of the bear breaking it!) but also one with low hanging branches cause Grizz WILL climb it,just like a human can-like a ladder!
Statistically speaking, regardless of bear species you have about a 50/50 chance of surviving a bear attack whether fighting back or playing dead; this is a fact based on those who survived bear attacks.
Personally, I would make sure I have a BEAR GUN WHILE IN BEAR COUNTRY!

It depends on which kind of bear but if its a black bear you make a lot of noise and undo your jacket puff yourself up and try and make yourself look bigger but black bears wont usually attack you unless you surprise them or get near their cubs.If its a grizzly bear the same rules do not apply they are bigger and more aggressive if one charges you get on the ground in the fetal position and stay still and quiet so it thinks your dead and it will eventually leave.

There are several things to do.
1.Try to act bigger to intimidate the bear while yelling and making as much noise as possible.
2.Play dead and cover your neck and face.
3.Unload on it.
4.If a Grizzly, climb a large tree.
5.Outrun your buddy.

if you are carrying a pistol make sure you file off the front site so that when the bear shoves it up your butt it comes out easier

you could do one of 2 things you could use pepper spray, or if you don't have pepper spray at your disposal grab a big stick and start swinging

You don't have to out run the bear, you just have to outrun your friend!

Grizzlie- play dead
black bear- shoot it
kodia- sorry your dead