I've come across them several times while hiking/backpacking and when I worked up on Jocassee (back in the '80s), never worried about them other than being inquisitive at campsites but I keep a clean campsite. I still carry a S&W 642 as my primary hiking/backpacking gun. We've got them on the game cams at my buddy's place in Union County, my neighbor has them on camera down at his family place around Santee, my brother has them on his cameras in Greenville County, etc. I don't see any point in hunting them and wouldn't shoot one unless I absolutely had to for some reason. I've tried bear cooked a couple of different ways and didn't care for it.