Hey all, first post after my intro.
An old bush pilot once told me that knowledge of how to make a fish trap and a dozen locking snares were worth their weight in gold (he carried 36 in various sizes -- eating off of snares is a numbers game). Obviously not good for the tobacco tin/back pocket kit, but exactly right for the scenario The Reaper proposed. I have no idea who these guys are, I post the link just to show what I'm talking about.
http://www.nwtrappers.com/catalog/snares/thompson.asp
A correctly sized locking snare can reliably take anything from squirrels and rabbits to deer.
Edited to add:
I remembered he also said a "drowner" was easier to make if you were going to carry brass wire and not pre-made locking snares. It was easier to find tracks by the water, and thereby sites for the trap, and you were less likely to lose your catch to a predator. He said a hole dug in the bank was irresistable to many animals. I never followed his advice to learn how to do this, but I did find -->
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/PDF/chpt9.pdf