The world record black bear (by weight) was killed in North Carolina in 1998. It was taken in Craven County NC on a dog hunt. The bear weighed 880 pounds.
Craven County, Hyde County, and several others in the coastal region of NC are famous for very big black bears.
As we all know, where one walks-hunts-lives in the woods is a big determining factor on what to carry for protection.
My youngest son is a bear hunter with hounds and lives in the mountain region of Western NC. The bears there are much smaller than the ones in the Costal are of NC.
He carries either a Winchester 94.30-30 or a Win 94 .38-55 plus a Ruger Redhawk .44 magnum.
All counties in NC have bears and a hunting season for them.
Here's a link to an article and picture of a 784# NC bear.
Teen takes second-heaviest bear in N.C. records on first bear hunt - News - Wilmington Star News - Wilmington, NC