In Montana (and I'm sure Paul will confirm the same for AK) if you cannot prove a clear case of DLP you're going to be in for one very bad experience.
Mark,
Rarely has anyone in Alaska been charged over a Defense of Life & Property (DLP) killing of bear during my time here. Honestly, I can't recall even one. I conclude that's a consequence of any number of factors. Our bears have killed, our bears are large and intimidating, there's no shortage of them in Alaska, our bears cause damage property, and I don't think the culture - across the board - societal, agencies, court system, provides any rewards for going after someone that kills a bear in DLP.
The shooter is quite clearly given the benefit of the doubt, in my area of the State. I've never heard of anyone being charged for taking a bear in DLP, and trust me, it would make the news. All bear stories make the news up here.
If there's a bear in someone's yard, and there are children at that residence, that's commonly all it takes. Some folk don't call F&G until the bears dead. There's no requirement to call and report the problem before killing the bear. Defense of Life and Property is taken at face value. Over and done and life goes on.
Now, if you poach a moose out of season, it's a different story. But even moose are killed in defense of life and property, but infrequently. I know a guy that killed a bull moose during the rut in DLP. The State did charge him, but the charges were eventually dropped. He'd only been in the State for maybe two years. Was out hunting black bear and a moose came running down the trail he was on. I have no idea if the moose needed to be killed or not. For the unbelieving, moose do kill people in Alaska every now and then.