Many times I see where survival in the wilderness is described as just needing a gun with ammo and the person will just live off the land hunting. The problem with this scenrio is that in a survival situation you will have limited ammunition. Therefore the ammunition you carry is better to be limited for self preservation in the worst of conditions and not for hunting.

There is also another problem with hunting of big game - sure its going to require a gun to get close enough to kill it but unless the temperature is below freezing outside the meat will spoil unless it is preserved quickly or eaten by a party of about 30 people.

With this being said - I do recommend anyone who wants to learn survival learn how to build a live trap. Live traps are great as they allow you to catch small daily quantities of food and if you do well one day - the animal, bird or fish could be kept alive for the days when trapping is bringing in nothing.

Live animal trap -
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/sanders64.html

Live trapping is fine if you are staying in one place. If you are moving, live trapping would be impractical. The only true live traps I know of are box traps. These are bulky and heavy. If I am on foot and on the move I will not be carrying box traps.

All of my guns are of the most common calibers. If on the move and hunting and scrounging for food and supplies, finding ammo should not be that much of a problem. In a nationwide SHTF scenario, a lot of people will not survive, and if people bug out, they will be leaving a lot of stuff behind. I am confident that I will be able to find ammo. If I bug out by vehicle, I will be taking all of my ammo with me. Believe me, I have enough.

As far as large animals go, I have no issues hunting them. My group as of right now, has 6 adults and 3 children. I am sure we could end up with a few more before we got to our destination. We will go through a lot of food. If I am able to get a large animal, I will stop for a day or two and pre cook and preserve all of the meat. This will also give us time to scout the area for fuel and other supplies. Who knows, in a panic situation, someone may have vacated the ideal place to homestead in this type of situation.

I agree that ammo may be needed to protect yourself, but what good does it do if you starve to death because you aren't willing to use any for food.

If you are bugging in and have small game around you, setting these traps are an excellent idea. If you are keeping the animal alive for later use, the box trap also makes a handy cage to keep them in until you need them. In a bug in situation, I would definitely want large game. I have a freezer and while I am not a butcher, I can clean my own game. It might not be pretty, but it will be nutritious.

Most of my stores are of the dry goods and canned foods. I have very little meat other than what is already in the freezer. My basic plans include hunting for meat to supplement my stores, and I have a lot of beans to eat in place of meat if I am having trouble getting game.

_________________
Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

NRA Certified Instructor for Basic Handgun and Personal protection in the Home.
V.F.W. Life Member
NRA Member
U.S. Army Veteran

I always thought that bow and arrow, or spear hunting would probably be best.

You don't give your location away to others who might not have the best intentions, you don't alert other animals of your hunting activities,, and you can fashion more weapons from what you find in the environment.