In 1542, firearms were real weapons capable of killing large animals, but they were also complex, temperamental instruments that required maintenance and that could misfire under wet conditions.

Gunpowder was finite.

Someone who had no experience with firearms — or limited experience — would face a steep learning curve in making effective use of one for hunting.

But a gun in the hands of someone who learned to use it was a way to kill large game that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to bring down by other means.

Bears.