[It does when there are waterbenders around who can drain all the moisture from even a young, healthy tree. Bringing back one large tree is easier than going around looking for old, dry wood, especially in this weather. Environmentally sustainable thinking, what's that?]
Mm, well... That kind of situation isn't ideal for speculation. [Unpredictable opponent, unplanned encounter. He tends to improvise his fights to a large degree, too, simply because he can afford to.] Perhaps throwing the axe in the monster's direction would have sufficed to scare it away, although I imagine your own solution with the gun would be the more effective choice for it. I take it you are quite mastered at them?
[He should get his hand on one to practise, actually, if there are enough of them to spare.]