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How far is too far for a "bug out" location?
5/6/2012 10:26:56 PM
So your shopping for some land to use in the short term as a hunting spot, but also serve as a backup/bugout location if the US economy goes to crap.
Lets say you were going to pick a spot of land in an area where you had friends and/or family, but it was 150 miles away.
Another option is some place closer, say within 25-50 miles.
Either way your going to have to travel some to get there.
Both of which are within reach on one tank of fuel.
My first preference is for a location where the hunting is good and easier to get to.
However, longer term I think its best to think about having a place to go where you will at least know some of the people and be on goof terms with.
Anyone have any thoughts one way or another?
Lets say you were going to pick a spot of land in an area where you had friends and/or family, but it was 150 miles away.
Another option is some place closer, say within 25-50 miles.
Either way your going to have to travel some to get there.
Both of which are within reach on one tank of fuel.
My first preference is for a location where the hunting is good and easier to get to.
However, longer term I think its best to think about having a place to go where you will at least know some of the people and be on goof terms with.
Anyone have any thoughts one way or another?
5/6/2012 10:30:35 PM
Originally Posted By Eastwood123:
So your shopping for some land to use in the short term as a hunting spot, but also serve as a backup/bugout location if the US economy goes to crap.
Lets say you were going to pick a spot of land in an area where you had friends and/or family, but it was 150 miles away.
Another option is some place closer, say within 25-50 miles.
Either way your going to have to travel some to get there.
Both of which are within reach on one tank of fuel.
My first preference is for a location where the hunting is good and easier to get to.
However, longer term I think its best to think about having a place to go where you will at least know some of the people and be on goof terms with.
Anyone have any thoughts one way or another?
So your shopping for some land to use in the short term as a hunting spot, but also serve as a backup/bugout location if the US economy goes to crap.
Lets say you were going to pick a spot of land in an area where you had friends and/or family, but it was 150 miles away.
Another option is some place closer, say within 25-50 miles.
Either way your going to have to travel some to get there.
Both of which are within reach on one tank of fuel.
My first preference is for a location where the hunting is good and easier to get to.
However, longer term I think its best to think about having a place to go where you will at least know some of the people and be on goof terms with.
Anyone have any thoughts one way or another?
I'd go w/ the friends.
5/6/2012 10:34:49 PM
Might consider routes to each of the locations. Are they likely to become congested and untravelable in a mad max situation? Which one will you actually be able to get to without attracting attention? Which plot is concealed from the road, to where you could build a small cabin of some sort without casual passerbys seeing it? Weigh out the pros and cons of each one. The plot close to family is nice, but is it the best place? Maybe your friends/family could travel to your location.
Other things to consider:
-Can you hunt on the land?
-Will it support a garden?
-How close is the closest person?
-Can you build a hunting cabin on it?
-How secluded is it?
-Is there running water on or near it? Some type of water source?
Just some food for thought. Location is key, but there are other aspects to consider as well when looking for a bugout location.
Cheers.
Other things to consider:
-Can you hunt on the land?
-Will it support a garden?
-How close is the closest person?
-Can you build a hunting cabin on it?
-How secluded is it?
-Is there running water on or near it? Some type of water source?
Just some food for thought. Location is key, but there are other aspects to consider as well when looking for a bugout location.
Cheers.
5/7/2012 7:24:32 AM
>100 miles = to far, it will take to long to get there - to many things can go wrong. Also, its to hard to get there frequently enough when times are good due to the time factor.
Ideal IMHO is about 45. This will get you past the outskirts of most large cities. You don't have to be secluded. Secluded may even be a negative. You really just need elbow room and a low profile/low population density (or perhaps a better population regardless of density). With only about 45 minutes travel time, you could realistically make quick weekend or even evening trips to check on things or make improvements in good times.
Ideal IMHO is about 45. This will get you past the outskirts of most large cities. You don't have to be secluded. Secluded may even be a negative. You really just need elbow room and a low profile/low population density (or perhaps a better population regardless of density). With only about 45 minutes travel time, you could realistically make quick weekend or even evening trips to check on things or make improvements in good times.
5/7/2012 10:45:24 AM
If you aren't developing the land, DYI type of thing, distance doesn't really matter that much.
If you are developing it, being able to get there on any given weekend and back, arrival after work on Friday type thing, is very important. Having developed raw land, house, cabins, barns etc.. unless you contract it all, you'll never get ahead of the ballgame if you have to use vacation time to get there. Life will just intervene.
A deer camp is exactly how our family property started in the mid-80s. We actually began with me buying a used camper and putting it on the land. It acted as our deer camp and place to stay as we added other structures and comforts like water a biggie. Our actual progression was camper, electric, water, pole barn to hold supplies, septic, house. Since then, we've just kept adding on, lean two on barn, cabin, barn, and just last year another metal building. The place is like a little town now.
The place was always intended as a get away spot and a place for the family to congregate in hard times. My parents were depression babies and considered all of life as be prepared for hard times. Most of that was done a little here and little there spare time type of thing, however after my mom and dad retired there, damn things have been going up fast. It becomes like a habit. Even since my dad's passing, its still going up fast. Its like a blink of the eye, nothing to this small town.
When we first started, I was the closest, 2 hours away. My family was 3.5 hours away. Now I'm 8.5 hours away but its still a BOL for me. Still have my camper and even have one of the barns designated to be upgraded to a cabin if needs be. That distance is 1.5 tanks fuel away and that's being conservative. I can make it in one in my diesel. The Bugout plan is simple really. Its a primary only if time and geography is permitting. I do have other options. That makes it more of a long term BOL. I keep double the fuel stored in NATO cans to make it no matter what vehicle I use if I haul the fuel. The fuel, of course, is also for generators and quite frankly has come in handy for things like someone ran out of gas or need to fill up a motorcycle or two etc.
Bugging out is all about why and time. The reason most people bugout is not zombies or even weather. More often than not, its simply hard times, a personal crisis. Having a place to go to is a wonderful thing.
Having a deer camp and place to escape to is simply fantastic.
Tj
If you are developing it, being able to get there on any given weekend and back, arrival after work on Friday type thing, is very important. Having developed raw land, house, cabins, barns etc.. unless you contract it all, you'll never get ahead of the ballgame if you have to use vacation time to get there. Life will just intervene.
A deer camp is exactly how our family property started in the mid-80s. We actually began with me buying a used camper and putting it on the land. It acted as our deer camp and place to stay as we added other structures and comforts like water a biggie. Our actual progression was camper, electric, water, pole barn to hold supplies, septic, house. Since then, we've just kept adding on, lean two on barn, cabin, barn, and just last year another metal building. The place is like a little town now.
The place was always intended as a get away spot and a place for the family to congregate in hard times. My parents were depression babies and considered all of life as be prepared for hard times. Most of that was done a little here and little there spare time type of thing, however after my mom and dad retired there, damn things have been going up fast. It becomes like a habit. Even since my dad's passing, its still going up fast. Its like a blink of the eye, nothing to this small town.
When we first started, I was the closest, 2 hours away. My family was 3.5 hours away. Now I'm 8.5 hours away but its still a BOL for me. Still have my camper and even have one of the barns designated to be upgraded to a cabin if needs be. That distance is 1.5 tanks fuel away and that's being conservative. I can make it in one in my diesel. The Bugout plan is simple really. Its a primary only if time and geography is permitting. I do have other options. That makes it more of a long term BOL. I keep double the fuel stored in NATO cans to make it no matter what vehicle I use if I haul the fuel. The fuel, of course, is also for generators and quite frankly has come in handy for things like someone ran out of gas or need to fill up a motorcycle or two etc.
Bugging out is all about why and time. The reason most people bugout is not zombies or even weather. More often than not, its simply hard times, a personal crisis. Having a place to go to is a wonderful thing.
Having a deer camp and place to escape to is simply fantastic.
Tj
5/7/2012 10:56:53 AM
To me it all depends on the reason you are choosing to have a BOL instead of a permenent residence on that land. Most of us it is work related. If that is so, the distance is not as much of a factor as the combination of distance and time off available. Farther distance means more time off needed for false starts/ SHTF hoaxes, for lack of a better term. If things are looking a little bad, give yourself 3-4 days of a head start and distance shouldn't be a problem. The problem would be a huge natural disaster/ man made disaster with no warning. Weigh that possibility against the money making potential of the populated region you are choosing.
5/7/2012 11:46:13 AM
is 780 miles too much?
thats my plan D or E, or lets hope it never comes to this plan.
thats my plan D or E, or lets hope it never comes to this plan.
5/7/2012 9:38:30 PM
I think it depends on what type of SHTF you are referring to. Sudden epidemic where quarantines go into effect, better be able to get to your BOL in a few hours or less. Job loss and looking at more like re-locating vs. "bug out", well, in that case it doesn't really matter. Trying to get away from hurricane/winter storm/etc, closer may not be a benefit since it probably wouldn't be far enough away to matter so you'd trade being stranded at home for being stranded at BOL.
For me, I'm somewhat stuck bugging in. I'm part owner in the family farm but it's 1500 miles from here. So, unless I'm looking at re-locating or become unemployed for the long term, I'm staying put. OTOH, if we have an economic collapse, being unemployed and needing to re-locate may be a reality. But, it won't happen overnight so I think I'll have time to plan my trip. Anything of a short term duration (storm or whatnot), I'm just driving west (then maybe south some) to get out of the problem zone and staying at a hotel until we can return.
For me, I'm somewhat stuck bugging in. I'm part owner in the family farm but it's 1500 miles from here. So, unless I'm looking at re-locating or become unemployed for the long term, I'm staying put. OTOH, if we have an economic collapse, being unemployed and needing to re-locate may be a reality. But, it won't happen overnight so I think I'll have time to plan my trip. Anything of a short term duration (storm or whatnot), I'm just driving west (then maybe south some) to get out of the problem zone and staying at a hotel until we can return.
