Safety while shooting

Safety....I have to think about that a lot when I am out shooting. It's certainly not something to take lightly considering some of the areas and situations that I sometimes put myself in. I like to explore, I like to find places that many people don't see. Everybody has some type of camera these days so it makes it just that more difficult to find places and things that the average person wouldn't stumble across.
Prior to going out I have to think about the possible situations that I am putting myself in. I typically carry bear repellent and a hunting knife regardless of where I am going. I also have a first aid kit and always have a cell phone although I have been in many areas in northern Wisconsin where service is not available.
You may think it's strange but I am more nervous about walking the streets of Madison at night than I am being out in the middle of nowhere miles and miles away from anybody. Madison at night or during the early morning is a beautiful city to photograph but with the high volume of assaults and robberies you can never seem to relax. You may wonder why I carry bear repellent in the city.....if it can stop a bear at 35 feet just think what it would do to a person. You just can't afford to take any chances when you are carrying around a lot of expensive equipment, plus I am kind of interested in living a bit longer. It irritates me to no end to think that I have to be on the defensive all the time but better to be safe than sorry.
I have yet to have any bad experiences photographing around Madison, lets hope it stays that way.
Now, trekking out in the wild is a little different. I am not so much worried about getting mugged as I am getting stuck in a bog or getting eaten by the local wildlife.....although there are some crazy people out there so you always need to be on the lookout. I have considered a firearm for my hikes into the wilderness. I think it's the safe thing to do. I have stood 30 feet from a mother Black bear and her cubs, had a wolf run 10 feet in front of me and have followed fresh Mountain Lion tracks. I am not a hunter, never will be, but when it comes to protecting myself it is a priority.
I have also considered a spot tracker for those areas where cell phone signals don't exist. That would give me some piece of mind knowing that I could be tracked if I turned up missing.
The one thing that I am not very good at is letting someone know where I am going....the problem is that most of the time I take off I have no plan. I just go........