It is true that it is not meant to be a literal statement, at all.
OTOH: You'd have to search really, really hard. In the right time of year. For the right kind of bear. In the right kind of woods. For me to ever prefer meeting the vast majority of men.
That is a clear headed, literal statement. I've met bears in the woods. They don't want to mess with you. They want you to go away, possibly dropping your peanut butter sandwich on the way out.