If a firearm is lawfully discharged in self-defense (or in defense of another) in a National Park (U.S.) and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

Title is tongue-in-cheek, because I know the shooter would hear it (obviously), as well as anyone within maybe 5 miles at the upper limit.My question is this: If you're carrying on a hike, aware of your surroundings, on a well-traveled trail, heeding all wildlife warnings, traveling in a group, speaking loudly and making noise, are approached by a dangerous animal (bear, lion, what have you), discharge pepper spray first (but into the wind or in an otherwise less-than-effective manner), and finally discharge a firearm in a way that you believe could defend your life (or those of another), what would you do next?Firearms are allowed in National Parks, consistent with federal, state, and local firearms laws and ordinances (except in the federal buildings, of course, which include ranger stations and visitor's centers). However, discharging the firearm is often said to be disallowed. You can certainly argue that they say "No Discharging Firearms" to make it clear that plinking/target shooting/hunting is not allowed, but it still raises questions for me. In the above scenario, I'm pretty sure we'd all say, fuck the rules, and fuck the bear that could potentially eviscerate us, but it is something I wonder about.The obvious answer is "Consult a lawyer", but would any of you feel obligated to get rangers or law enforcement involved? Would you report a sighting? Would you report a sighting and hearing a gunshot? Would you come clean and document everything that happened, possibly incriminating yourself?Would this change if you fire an effective warning shot vs. an actual hit vs. a fatal shot/shots?If you're hiking out, and a ranger asks you if you heard a gunshot, would you lie? Duty to inform is state-dependent, but what do you think you would do in this unlikely event (or, if this has happened to you, what did you do)? via /r/CCW https://ift.tt/2zGrlQH