seriously huh, god help you if you had to actually try to defend yourself from a wild bear with a slingshot.

however... I have used a slingshot on a variety of occasions with bears. Coyotes, and even a mountain lion (once). the deal is that a lot of animals freak out once they hear something whizzing thru the air.
its better than nothing... its entertainment, and you'd be really surprised how much impact a slingshot provides.

I know it sounds lame... but really... worth its weight