I only hunt deer and elk. I am usually gone 15-20 days hunting. I would say about 15-20 scouting in the spring and summer also.
We have been married for 26 yrs. I have 2 boys out of school. As long as I make time for us and get my work done at home, I can be gone as much as I can afford to be.
When I hunted bears a lot, the 30-06 was my go to cartridge. Based on several that I shot and several others I saw shot, it would still be my cartridge of choice. Put the bullet in the vitals and you will have a very dead bear not far from impact.