Since I don’t have a crystal ball (and I don’t know anyone who does), we don’t know if there will be a major crisis within the next few decades, or exactly what would unfold if one were to occur. So the best we can do right now is to speculate based on history and our knowledge of human nature. Reassuring, huh?

So all we can do is prepare as best we can. For those who can afford to invest in a rural piece of property as a bug out location, there are a lot of factors to consider. Are you shopping for something with a home already on it? Do you want a stream or river running through it? Do you want it wooded for timber resources or open for visibility? Again, there is a lot to consider.

The bright side here is that a good property could also double as hunting camp, and probably should if your finances are—like most people’s—limited. Here are some points for you to ponder before you sign the papers for your own double-duty property.

1. Off the Beaten Path
One of the biggest assets that a bug out property could have is being in an out-of-the-way location. This isolation reduces the amount of attention that you and your activities would attract during or after a crisis. I believe the last thing you want is to have a big beautiful farm full of livestock and crops right next to a highway. You don’t need to be on a deserted island, but you would need to be hard to find.

2. Accessible
Almost seeming to contradict the first requirement, your ideal bug out location should be within reach of your home and work, even by walking. Here’s what I mean. If you had to trek on foot for a month to get there, chances are good that you’d never make it there (especially with the kids and older relatives in tow). A three or four day walk from your home or work is pushing the limits of the distance you’d want to be from your stronghold.

3. Water
This magic fluid means life, especially in drier locations. A spring or stream that never runs dry, or an existing well, are all ideal when shopping for acreage.

4. Natural Resources
Wood, wild edible plants, and lots of game are great things to see on a prospective piece of property. These things may not last very long if you had to start relying on them, but at least they’re there for you in the first place. Other natural features like caves, ponds, and lakes could be immensely valuable.

5. Defensible
This attribute is hard to qualify and it will depend on the part of the country where you’re located. Defensible sites could be hilltops, mesas, islands in a swamp, canyon lands and many other types of terrain that would hamper the travel of trespassers and marauders, and potentially allow you to see them without being seen yourself.

What would you want to see in a bug out location? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment.