I see you are from IF. I was born in American Falls, grew up in Aberdeen and POKY and then after the Military moved to IF where I flew the Helicopter at EIRMC for 18 years. Fished the South Fork every week and then many times in Island Park and then mountain streams all over. Where are you going that you think you need firepower? In all my years (1949 and up) I never had a problem with bears or any other animal for all that goes. I hunted the "Frank Church" area before it was the "Frank Church," as well as the rift near Aberdeen many times as a kid and never a problem.