I spend a fair amount of time recreationally in bear/wolf/lion country.
In running around Livingston, Big Timber, Ennis, Helena, Billings and others just off the top of my head, (I will be around Wolf Creek tomorrow) just this spring/early summer, I have never seen a hiker/backpacker packing a pistol gripped shotgun. That's just on the MT side. Same goes for ID.
Since I don't feel like taking a bunch of different guns, I opted to bring two. A 4" Model 29 with 305 grain hardcast pushed by H110, and the S&W 4563 PC .45ACP. It will serve both as a lightweight hiking gun and CCW piece.