True enough, he wasn't completely discouraged, just temporarily; smart & focused bear. The guy was an animal-loving scientist and no mention of a gun was made, so I get the idea that he would never shoot a bear, even to save his own life. The next day, he was back on the ice, photographing the wildlife, apparently armed only with a camera and possibly the OC spray (though the narrative made it sound as if the OC spray was kept in the cabin that the bear chased him into, not on his person).