Carrying a firearm is required by State Law in Alaska, most guys carry some sort of pistol, I for the most part a 22 RF light and well plenty of small game around in a survival situation. 12 ga Shotguns are some what popular too. As for the airplane in question, you do what you have to do. Well its not going to be cheap to re fabric an airplane, Nice PA-12 thou. You would be surprised to know what those tundra tires cost. About 1500 to 2500 a piece. Never mind what it cost to fly that stuff to him. Airplanes a real money pits. And in Alaska, it will cost you four or five times the money out in the bush than in town. Well as long as nobody got hurt, the salmon he caught is was very expensive. In airplanes like that, weight becomes a real factor, You have to keep what the state says you have to carry with regard to survival, as light as possible. So light guns and pistols are what you see a lot, as for that bear, well bear is just doing what bears do. Try having one sniffing around your tent some time.