YK:
I have been using nothing but point and shoot camera's because I'm to cheap to spring for a high dollar DSLR. I use a Canon SX10IS that is several years old. It has 20x optical zoom and was $319 when I bought it. That kind of optical reach in a good DSLR will be ten times that. It is a little big for pocket carry on the line but has held up to some good punishment and a wide range of weather.
I also use a Sony pocket size HX5V because it has GPS built in that I can mark trap sites with. You can buy all the high dollar gear you want but if you don't have it with you when you need it your passing gas.
I think the ideal outback rig would would have all the features of the HX5V above plus waterproof. I found out mine isn't waterproof when I fell in the river with it. Sony fixed it for nothing and sent it back but its been stuck in the village for months.

I flew the coast from Kotlik to Emo the other day and couldn't believe the moose. And no where to expand. Tundra to the north and south and Bearing sea to the west. No where to go but build back up the river. No one is going hungry on the Lower Yukon that wants meat to eat.