Much better option Cades Cove.
I'd hunt it first and see what kind of carving it earns.
... Here is the rifle "BAER KILLR" that Brian Barker built this year .... she now lives with member Stoner Creek in Kain-tuk-ee,...Brian named her "BAER KILLR" and engraved this on the thumb-piece on top of the wrist,... (photo taken before finished,... much prettier now).. A Great Southern Mountain rifle,...!!! hunger games cannon sound
Here's another option.
I抦 from the less is more crowd. Maybe a bear track inlay on the cheekrest would be a little more subtle. Hungry Horse
Believable historical folk art is hard to duplicate in spite of its simplicity and whimsical nature. Done wrong, it looks sadly modern. Done right, its really great stuff. Folks back in the day--had different handwriting skills/styles from today. Research and study what was done carefully.Mike Brooks did a good job of it on his Liberty gun. Brent Gurtek out of Duluth does a fair job of it. The Sibleys on their horns do it quite well. I am sure there are others.
...It mustn't look like a Real animal, if it does, it's wrong, if you know what I mean. Sorta' kinda like this, (below) but a bit more bear -shaped! ...
This is a tough one becuase bears are notoriously hard to draw, at least and look good. Not much more than a big black lump.