I played Red Dead Redemption for the first time today

[DioShiba]

if you don't expect another bear to come up right behind you so it can literally rape you.

have you ever actually played this game
that's like minute 1 knowledge. "hmm I should probably know that's gonna happen again"

"if you don't expect it"
expect it.
always.
(ps it helps to stand on the cliff where the bighorns are with your back to the train tracks)
((or hide inside one of the huts))

yes

I always end up getting my ass mauled in tall trees though because of the fucking bears that come up behind me after using dead eye on one from time to time.

or any other animal in that area and the mountain past it, shoot one animal, comes right behind you before you can skin it. (edit:and for the most part I lack common sense in that regard until I figure it out, I play and learn)