Essential Guide: How to Choose the Ultimate Bug Out Location 

For those on more of a budget buying some land and simply putting a trailer on it is the easier way to go. May not be much but it's better than nothing at all.

1. Always call it a "vacation property" and never a "bugout location" or "survival retreat." You do not want other people to know your real intentions for the property. 2. Recognize the difference between paying a mortgage on a property and owning it outright. You want to own that property outright, especially if you lose your income during an economic down-turn. 3. Recognize the security of registering the property in the name of a limited liability company you own instead of being registered in your name. This adds another layer of privacy if someone is using property records to track you down. 4. Make sure you can get to the property any time of year and that you do not have a long drive to get there. The further away the property is, the less often you will visit it and local criminals will know this. If winter snows or spring flooding regularly make the property inaccessible, do not buy it for a vacation retreat. 5. Recognize the importance of having a strong gate to the property's access road and a strong fence around your property. These are the first improvements to the property you should make. You want to make it difficult for trespassing poachers and thieves to get onto your property. Thieves will even strip an unattended property of timber to sell to a pulp wood company just to make a quick buck. Others will use a neglected property for hiding a trailer that is a meth lab. You want to keep trespassers off your property. Do not underestimate the number of criminals who live in rural counties or the effectiveness of the local gossip network. 6. Your neighbors will know all about you and what you are doing to the property long before you meet any of them. Tax assessors are naturally interested in the local properties and they talk to their friends and family. Be on your best behavior when interacting with local store clerks, county officials, the mail carrier and anyone else in the community because they all talk to each other about new people (you and your family). Your reputation will proceed you. 7. If you will not be living full-time on the property, consider the security value of leasing the fenced property as grazing land. Someone else's goats can keep a property cleared of brush. Someone else's cows can keep the wild grasses and weeds mowed. And the livestock owner will keep sharp look out for livestock rustlers and check the fencing regularly which means also keeping a close watch on your property while you are not there. 8. A large metal barn on the property that has inside it a 30 or 50 amp power post and a sewer connection to a septic tank makes a perfect place to park an RV. That weather-sheltered RV can be your bug-out housing any time of year. And you can take the RV away when you are not staying on the property, so that there is very little left behind on a vacant property to interest trespassing thieves or vandals. 9. If you are not living on the property full-time, never leave anything on the property that you cannot secure or are unwilling to lose to thieves. Rural thieves love large generators, solar power systems and security cameras for their resale value. Ditto for ATVs, snow mobiles and fishing boats kept behind doors fastened with flimsy locks. Rural thieves have bolt cutters and chain saws in the beds of their pick-up trucks.

I’ve been living off the grid for almost a year now. I’ve put my previous life behind me. It was very hard and confusing surviving on my own. In the middle of nowhere by myself. But now I wouldn’t want it any other way. You do a lot of soul searching when you are by yourself.

Tugboat captain for 25 years, so I would go with a boat as an initial bugout location, as well as a mode of transpo to get away from the rat race. It could also be a way to transport me and others to a secondary, remote land-based bug out place that few would be able to reach, a coastwise wilderness location with plenty of fish, game to hunt and timber for building.

Great, informative video. Everyone needs to tailor a plan for their circumstances. I'm 70 and I'm staying put. Sitting on 20 acres and my home is defensible. I have a drilled well but can access water without power. Town population 460 in Massachusetts of all places. Stay vigilant and keep your powder dry.

You forgot the most important part. How many people are coming with you/ already live there? If you plan on bugging out alone you are just a target. You need enough people for 24 hour watch plus working the land. It’s often better to bug out to /with other peepers. That’s what I’m doing. We have about 10 people going to the same working farm. It’s small out of the way and already has the property built on it.

A couple of ideas. Grow fruit trees to trade the fruits latter, they are going to be the new currency. For me are olive oil trees, they almost growing allone. Always alternative roads to go there, think out of the box, car is not the only way to travel, sea is also a road, a captain mentioned that in the comments sections, even if you don't have a boat, take a few sailing lessons if you are near the sea, they are fun and might be useful, you never know.

I have 87 Acres in the high Dessert. I built a tiny house on it. My safe bug out all loaded and ready. About an hour from the city, up high behind hills. Lots of trees, and a spring !! Good hunting and farming too. And romantic !! LOL

That's a Polycom hat. Dude got some office phone swag.

My location, I am there now. Fifteen acres, water access, Northern Minnesota, solar powered, years supply of food, totally ready for anything. Wood heat, lifetime of wood. Trouble is no garden. Have to store the food here. I have gold, silver, top one per cent of net worth, sitting good. Only trouble is I am 69, going on 70. Getting old. Age is a factor. One year's supply of everything. Protect yourself.

Excellent analysis. My situation could involve squatters. I have a plan for dealing with them but I haven't dug the graves just yet.

I have lived in the mountains all my life and I love it.

Thank you for the video. I am a young one, without enough money to buy a land, but I have time to prepare beforehand. Like basic sewing and clothes making skills, gardening, woodworking. I try to study (local) edible plants and herbs,preserving and fermenting. I don't have a license yet, but I bought a car "anatomy" course, where they take apart a car, then put it together while they teach you the name and role of the part, so I can know the basics. Car mechanics usually scams (young) woman, just like others(plumber, electrician, etc.)/respect for the honest ♥️/ I planing to sew my ideal backpack: hidden pockets, Molle system (in "girly" version to look more gray-man), concealable weight support straps on the waist, etc. I want to be more over prepared, than under. Sorry for my bad English. Have a pleasant day. 😊

That will break operational security hahaha, oh boy, this guy has watching too many movies and wants to be a super solider rambo guy!

Boy, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL, A WONDERFUL video. You really made a very beautiful compilation of your up growing times, very nice👍👍👍

Love you thinking this all the way through and sharing your thoughts. Yours is the most comprehensive plan that I’ve ever seen. Thanks for sparking my thoughts 💭

This all sounds like how I grew up on the farm, then I enlisted into the Marine Corps (Infantry, MEUSOC) and Deployed so think I pretty well have it all covered.

Enjoy the quiet and free beer..some good points..atb from the UK..

have multiple routes to your location, prep your site before hand, make sure you know your vehicle well, and it's problems. there the cons are mitigated. i would want defensible land and preferably mountains since they are easily defendable, and even the most trained soldiers will have trouble trying to take you out without heavy equipment, farming can be done on an incline with terracing, and you can build into the mountain itself. plenty of trees would be nice, but it's not necessary. i avoid flat land unless there is significant tree cover, or cactus cover.

You can get cabin kits online. They are fairly cheap all things considered. There's one, two, and three bedroom options. Your dad seems cool af and judging by the pics, you look just like him lol. I'm just a slightly different version of my dad too, lools and personality lol. Older i get, the more i see my dad in myself.

Love this. Thank you very much for putting out very timely info.

Great 👍 video. Very well done. Excellent information. Just watched another current video. Wish you were my 10 acre away neighbor.

The brutal cold and snow is your best friend after you learn how to survive and thrive in that area IMO. That perfect climate where Everybody will be heading after is the WORST BOL.

Really enjoying your content, very informational! Thank you

You just got another subscriber... I liked very much what you said and listed in this video man, I'm trying to find and know strategies to pick a good location like a small farm or something and I'm kinda new to this survivelist lifestyle so your video is very useful. Thanks man! Shot out from Brazil

I’m from Chicago and moved to the suburbs. I have no clue where to even start. I’ve seen youtubers spend so much money on bunkers. I don’t have money like that to spend. I’m Glad I came to this video at least giving me somewhere to start. It’s hard to find people around me that believe in something like this or to help with giving some knowledge. My family thinks I’m crazy. I wish I can meet you lol because I have so many questions.

This guy gave some really great info

Just found your channel, great information 👍

Excellent thoughts! General considerations: Vehicles, do you need a 4x4, do you need a pickup truck, etc.? If you have children or someone who has physical problems, these considerations should also be thought of. If you want to bury all or part of the structure, knowing the water table depth is good to know. Is your "retreat" defensible? Camouflage is the blending in to surrounding area, you should make the "retreat" defensible but not so obvious. I went through a similar checklist for my cabin location! Have a plan and practice the plan!

Good stuff !! You made really good points and made me think objectively. I'm not as prepared as I need to be.

A well thought out and informative video. Great discussion . Good luck with your bug out location . Thank you . Cheers

Love your vids, keep them coming

Sorry my dude but am catching up on your vids. I bought 20 acres in TX and can tell you wildfire is a problem so build accordingly. Also you dont want restrictions on how you can use the property unless this is also an investment. Finally look at what nuclear reactors and targets are within 200 miles of you. Stay west of such facilities and targets. Finally, make sure your land can pass a perc test for a septic field. Good luck and feel free to visit in texas anytime.

Thank you!!! Just starting to learn all this now. Really helped!!! 🥰🥰

Not having seen Prepper Castle, I"m probably wrong, but no matterwhat, that castle can be breached. If you're trapped or in a so-called castle, the enemy can wait you out, and if he has total control of the country side, and you're stuck in a fortified fort, he can wait you out, and no matter what, he can do reconnassence in force, probing for weak points in your defense. I'd say that to survive, maybe instead of having a castle or a fortified bunker to depend on, go out and live off the land..... Move and keep on moving every few days, so that you don't leave a footprint.....

*LLANO, TEXAS. Everything on your list is found as you radiate out from Llano, Texas. This area (Texas Hill Country) happens to be featured in Joel Skousen's "Strategic Relocation" book as one of the best places to live offgrid. FOUR different underground fresh water aquifers converge under the "Llano Uplift", which is a region of hundreds of miles of solid granite & has this been one of the most geologically stable regions in the nation & never experiences tremors, much less earthquakes BUT is close to multiple natural cave systems. Too moist/damp for wild fires & flash floods aren't an issue as long as you choose the land right. Too far from the coast for hurricanes or tsunamis, & not flat enough for tornadoes. This region is on the opposite side of hills/ridges that create a natural down draft across central Texas flowing toward the Gulf of Mexico which means the only nuclear power plants & refineries are so far away & down wind that they are not an immediate threat. Texas has every natural resource required to run as an independent country if necessary, & enjoys lakes, beaches, forests, swamps, deserts, mountains, plains, hillcountry. And .... it's TEXAS, for GOODNESS SAKE!* *The rural people are genuinely friendly with a preparedness attitude, strong 2nd Amendment & dominant conservative/libertarian ideology, spiritually respectful, technologically advanced & have a strong work ethic!*

Congratulations!🍾🥂

"Is that the una bomber" lol

Nicely done! I’m looking at the same but at the same time living in the city is more practical. I have family with a location but I’m not leaving home unless our neighbors and community goes to 💩. Holding the fort as long as possible is the key and being ready to move is the other.👍🍻

Great advice about the national park.....

Good information. Thank you for the video.

I thought this was gonna be cheesey or cringe, but this was an extremely well put together video with facts and scenarios. And the synthwave style music in the background made an awesome twist.

Don't forget wind direction from big cities to your area. You don't want nuclear fallout to reach you if the worst happens.

never push the bicycle directly to a caache spot or your tunnel. Go 50 to the side, 50m too far and hand-carry the stuff back to your site, being careful about where you step. This is all at night, of course. For the last 50 ft, wear the nail sandals. avoid using just one exit from the tunnel and avoid going the same way, either to or from the exit. The nail sandals are chunks of 1x4, a foot long, with a 3" nail driven thru it every 1" of length of width. Bend your back and your knees. Cup your palms on your knees. Raise your foot Straight up, and lower it straight down, so that the nails dont tear the dirt or debris. All of the tiny holes left by the nails will be filled with ant-activity and/or rain within a week or so.

Have you read that book about Argentina's 2001 currency collapse? The gangs followed and then attacked people up to their rural bug out locations. It was a massacre. Nobody hears your screams when you are in the middle of nowhere.

This was a very interesting video - thanks.

Great video and thanks for sharing this information .

I love that 80's music...oh, and thank you for the tips, I wrote them all down and I'm going to start searching for land using this exact criteria; awesome video! 'Liked' and Subscribed :)

In a SHTF situation, all land is publically recorded and when they begin to round everyone up, they'll know you're there

Been looking and find the prices going up for land. I also find that there is less land for sale. I have hit so many road blocks that I am about ready to just make my stand where I am.

Brother your back! Nice, well lets do this.

Great video. I am now subscribed and will be checking out your other videos. Need to read all the comments but here are some things to consider. 1.Ensure your property can't be held hostage by a sniper playing overlook. 2. The property needs to allow for a perimeter road to maintain fences and walk the wire. A lot of times you'll find a good deal on property and the terrain will not allow for this. 3.Insure there is some sort of back door to escape. Always have a plan B.

Joel Skousen book called strategic location

Here's a thougth to add. Don't be a stranger (you and your family) to your location. Better to bug out to a living situation that you (and your family) are familiar with! And are familiar with the route(s) to get there as well. And you are familiar to your neighbors (on a regular basis) as well.

I always make sure I have more than one way to get to my bug out that way if there is a rd block I can take a different route and I always go at night and I have it where I can live there long term.. And worse case scenario if there is rd blocks why take chances to go to town. So good idea is plant a garden big enough to last till next planting season.. Lots of things that go into survival if anything bad happens

Brother you look like your dad. Straight twin LOL

THANK YOU!

Great video❤️❤️

I completely agree with ur criteria on a location. But I have a few extra. " Is there any logging roads or railways nearby if so how often are they used." And the next I never considered until I moved to this area. And that is " Is the water from the nearest water source drinkable." The reason for that is I now live near the ohio river and I didn't know this but there is a oil refinery on the river and all the locals tell me not to drink,swim ,or eat the fish in the river.

really wow

You were showing property in my hometown. What are the odds of that... Perfect bug out area! I know those woods well. Very remote.

This is one of the subjects where many people have good ideas and are trying to be practical, but I feel as if there is no perfect situation unless you can move to a place you like and then be near the ideal bug out location. At this point in time, I have thought about a building up a trailer or getting a large van which would allow a well outfitted bug out vehicle and a shelter all in one. My hope would be to then find or build a decent home or a few cabins and add a few small buildings on some nice wooded lot near rivers or streams and a good location to be joined by family.

You got all the basics covered very well. I think maybe the growing season, when and what grows in the area? If you have a MAG group or prepped group are they going to be allowed to stay there with you and your family if the worst happens? Hard for one person to guard the homestead or bug out location 24/7. Where and what would you want to put into a cashe if you had to go part the way on foot. I am going to borrow your list to use on finding my bug out location. Good luck with your property. Stay safe my friend

You did a wonderful job on presenting a solid true bug out location process . I have two bug out location because survival is in numbers . I do not own them i am just partnered with them . I have this in place because i don’t have the means to care-give a location . The location i are situational ready and room to grow . Meaning can except what i will bring to the party ( spouse,dogs and gear ) i can tell you that even though we have all been stuck at home it should of given you all time to think and redo your kits . ( even more minimal on gear ) bugging in is way more simpler then bugging out . They people they show case a bag to bug out with with no location will be ruff . You sir are going about it perfectly you have supply’s for both . I would highly recommend wi solar security camera backed up by game cameras at exit and entrances. To allow you to monitor it . The cover of night for sensitive items . What ever product you need at a discount between you and i you are covered ! Definitely go to the ranger station to get fire road maps to aid in over watching or scouting possible overtake of your property by someone . Game cam 100 yards away from your property to check for anyone watching you and creatures that lurk . I would home stead the hell out of it . Rain water collector . Pond with fish . Training facility for bush craft and indoor shooting range slash safe room . The list will go on . Very proud and jealous my friend

excellent

Have everything you are taking packed and ready to go

What if your primary residence meets all 10 of your checklist? Is there always a need for a bug out? My husband & I were both raised in our community, so we know the woods, creeks, & bluffs like the back of our hands. Does that count as a plan B?

We're lucky enough to live in rural Arkansas. I've got places to take my fam, but doubt I'll ever have to. Wal-Mart's like 30 min away lol

Super nice video God bless 👍

Nice channel

I have a friend who moved from the city to a rural area in Wisconsin with the thought of "getting away." That was about 5 yrs ago. Now, he said, you wouldn't believe how many city people are renting or trying to establish footing in his area. (no cell service in his area!) Many are claiming hardship of some kind and start off by going to a local church to "get to know" their kind neighbors. The net result is that he's seen those people taking advantage of the homesteaders already there. They look for sympathy and wind up being entwined within the once quiet community. Moral of the story: if you think you're going to "bug-out" to a remote location and be safe you're wrong. It will only be a matter of time until you're surrounded or infiltrated. They won't storm your property, they go in another way...

Man, the Norris Lake area of East Tennessee is a great place to post up. The weather isn't too bad, plenty of natural resources, a 900 sq. mile lake ain't bad. Land is cheap, and property tax is absurdly cheap, i know of literally 100's of acres for sale. Northern tourists are becoming an issue, but looks like the flugaloo is gonna take care of that soon lol. Locals are friendly southern people for the most part, except the strung out, drugged up younger generations, but hey, that's everywhere now. Lastly, not many predators to speak of. I can literally walk 20 minutes up the road and it's forests and mountains as far as you can see. I've lived here all my life and I'd rather be nowhere else to survive the end of the world.

Im subbed. I have 32 years of survival ecperience and practice. Ex Army Ranger. Great video. Charles

THANKS FROM BRASIL.

Don't forget your P-38 can opener!

For me it's my lake cottage in rural MS an hour S.E. from my home near crazy crime ridden Memphis. Walnut Lake is a PRIVATE 50 acre lake with 3 ways in, 3 ways out. Surrounded by hundreds of acres of Holly Springs National Forest. Lots of fish, squirrels, deer, turtles, ducks, etc. Spring fed with water running out of ground near shore in places. It is vey possible for the residents to defend from outsiders, and you won't want to mess with them. Stay away in a crisis if not an owner as we will organize security posts. Each resident can be self sufficient and none of us will starve. Watch for properties to come up for sale on this lake. Small fishing cottages, and homes alike are very affordable. No zoning laws.

Good video

Perfect "vacation home" in Lanesville WV. 3 br, own water supply, large garage, sheds, on side of mountain. 125k. If you don't have one yet this is the perfect vacation home...behind a ski resort on the other side of the mountain.

I would love to move out to the boons.

Buy shotguns and ammo and a cabin deep in the woods. Find affordable land far away from people. And build a little barn on your remote property. Keep it simple. But get a cabin

How about the alternative of forting up and staying in place? I've always thought about building a home that's more of a fortress.

An isolated stealth bunker well supplied. This may be your only choice. After one year it may be safe to cl.e back out....maybe

It was good list to think about. Speaking of which, when i try this checklist, S.Korea is not good country for off-grid i guess. Winter is cold as Russia, Summer is Hot as Vietnam, limited wildlife chains. Over populated cities and highways are everywhere. Northern part of country is very close to N.Korea, so having high risk of hit by blind fires. Southern part have tradition of hit by typhoon yearly. Despite that, i'm thinking sub-urban and mountain area of eastern shoreline as my location of bug-out. There are many mountains in National park, having less populations, sustainable food source named sea, and most important, there are port that maybe can used be as civilian evac site incase of SHTF or Kim Jung Un going nuts.

One of the best Topic Videos I've seen. 👍 Have you served in the Military? This #FakeFlu has been perfect from a Prepper point of view: ✓ Observe State actions ✓ Observe Crowd actions ✓ Test ourselves... We *now know where the Checkpoints will be!* We now know *what items to stock up (further) on.* >We know who we can trust.

Urban is good. Self sufficiency is good. The secret is balance. Work eight hours, sleep eight hours, have eight hours of fun. Balance. There is no perfect place, no perfect people. Things change. Be resilient. I went for Northern Minnesota, frozen food sixth months a year naturally, as I spend my winters in Florida. Balance. We have deer, moose, bear, wild game, fish, but winter is an issue. I call it my pandemic safe house, four hours north of Minneapolis St. Paul. No perfect place. Protect yourself.

8 hour drive? how long if you had to walk it?

If at all possible stay in place! Ready resources at hand.ammo is heavy to move practice your gear,

I live in Missouri, it's pretty country,just a little bit rocky

We have a place at elko county nevada but no house . we wont make it there . we have to sell now and leave . now . but because of work were staying here . u never know our land in elko county nevada might come in handy . and me with no drivers license !

Wow you look so much like your Dad it’s almost like looking at a twin.

Lots of great info. I moved out to my bug out location 5 years ago and now it is my bug in location. As you stated, when this pandemic started we were flooded with outsiders and no, they were not well received by most of us here. Another point you brought up, check your neighbors. I have one that was so nice and once we moved in became a thorn in our side. Love it here though and not many other places I could imagine myself on.

I wouldn't leave my wooded area other words my home I would stay and I would defend it...... 9 times out of 10 in a fall out situation your friends and neighbors may become your enemy, Trust no one.

Background check the Neighbors

Congratulations

Great advice : Human Instinct and Natural Law. I don’t have the 1st. 😭 Always wrong and out of place. 😅

Not so much a selection criteria, but just a thought or two. If you're bugging out, it would be good to know that the area is secure, prior to departure. Traveling 6-8 hours, only to find out that your retreat has been moved into by someone else is a recipe for disaster. Having a location too far away, means you can't keep an eye on things yourself. Secondly, is food/supplies, a person or family is going to need considerable supplies to sustain themselves. If you're planning on any type of gardening it will take months, at best, to get plants from seed to harvest. Hunting will help, but obviously that's not a guarantee.

Maybe consider this a ‘vacation property’, not just your BOL. That makes it a much easier explanation to coworkers, etc. whenever you go there, and it isn’t such a big deal to ‘bug out’ if needed.

Based on your criteria what are some good bug out locations to consider?

I saw that guy on a video he is a cool ass guy

I don’t need a bugout location... “I’m coming to your place!”