what should be considered in bug out placement choice

[easy rider]

As title really how do you choose a bug out location , whats the list in priority aspects.
I think ide sit it out at home first but struggle to decide where to bug out too, high ground,rural location, just being stuck in traffic few hours ago makes me think just how far do you could you get anyway.

[Arzosah]

And why? It comes up over and over again, to be honest ... if your house/flat gets burned down or flooded, thats one thing - but heading out to live in the wilds while your house is still standing, that's another. I have bug out routes planned from my house, in case of that sort of emergency while public transport has been cancelled, so I'm not saying not to think about it - but my routes are about getting around on foot or by bike, and getting to my sister, my business partner, a friend, people like that. Not hiking off to stay in the wild - which is non-existent in most of the country anyway, the population density makes it impossible. And in all honesty, for me, with my health conditions, I'd last about 3 days

If that hasn't put you off then the things to think about are direction, mode of travel, speed of travel, the distance you need to cover. Have a read of ferfal's blog - stick his name in a search engine, you'll find him. And most of all for the UK, check out David Crossley's book, Bugging Out. And there's loads of threads on here over the months.

HTH!

[Panther]

Why do you feel you need a bug out location, what do you envisage you'll be bugging out from ?

If you need a plan just in case your local area becomes dangerous or uninhabitable for a while (maybe due to flooding, major chemical spillage/contamination, massive fire etc.) then you can just move out to a hotel/guest house a safe distance away.
If you're thinking to prepare for something much greater and all-consuming like complete breakdown of society you'll find that most people on this sight think it's far better to bug in if at all possible.
If of course you're planning past that and think it's important to have a BOL in case bugging in becomes untenable, (your home is under attack for example) then a well placed bug out location becomes important.
Priorities for a bug out location?
1. Well it has to provide shelter. It's no use thinking you can survive out in the open for any length of time, it's just not going to work.
2. It would probably need to be remote; you won't want the whole world and his mate coming knocking at your door begging for food! (This is a difficult but not completely impossible thing to achieve in this overcrowded country of ours.)
3. A clean water supply close at hand is essential.
4. It has to be secure/defendable. It's no good having any of the previous things if someone else is able to come along and drive you out - you'd then lose everything, possibly including your life.

What BOL you ultimately choose will probably be dictated by whereabouts in the country you live; every region has different possibilities and solutions. Take your time choosing; look on maps, look in guide books, visit places to see what they really offer. Lastly, think outside the box. Keep your BOL secret, tell no-one.

[jansman]

It is a question that arises frequently, for sure. Personally the whole BO thing is not for me. For one thing , I am the wrong side of young! I like comfort, and so does my dear Wife. The orher members have said what I would I guess, and we certainly do live on a crowded island.

For saying that though, we are prepared to move to a hotel, or relative if needs be. Also, we have our 'backyard BOL' as I call it. Our Summerhouse. We have a large garden, too large at times. I cleared and paved the area at the top, out of sight behind the trees. I also fenced it in with a lockable gate. None of the neighbours know it is there, and thats how it will stay.

It is also a little off grid experiment, although there is mains electric. We have rain catchment ( water), solar panel to charge a leisure battery, and solar lighting. We have cooking facilities and I have even set up a composting toilet and solar shower area. All very neat and discrete. Oh yes, and a mini bar! Chuck in a very comfortable sofa bed and bingo!

We have had decorators in this week ( I HATE decorating) so we have been living there for three days. And it works. Ok, not everyone can do that, but it shows that an alternative location does not have to be remote or uncomfortable.

[featherstick]

For me, the ideal bug-out location has
a) breakfast, including decent coffee
b) a laundry service, or at least an ironing board as I will still need to go to work
c) tv
d) wi-fi so I can keep up-to-date and email ppl
e) a reasonable day-rate

If we ever bug out it's because the house has burnt down or some major disaster has happened, and we'll be going to a hotel or a pal's house.

Living in the woods under a tarp? No, not really.

[Deeps]

For me, the ideal bug-out location has
a) breakfast, including decent coffee
b) a laundry service, or at least an ironing board as I will still need to go to work
c) tv
d) wi-fi so I can keep up-to-date and email ppl
e) a reasonable day-rate

If we ever bug out it's because the house has burnt down or some major disaster has happened, and we'll be going to a hotel or a pal's house.

Living in the woods under a tarp? No, not really.

I'm with you Featherstick, I've done the whole kipping under a tarp/tent/bridge etc, loved it and wouldn't rule out doing it again, I still love camping but that's a choice thing, if I HAD to sleep under a tarp then things have gone horribly wrong. Bug in, bug in, bug in and only as a last resort would I think about bugging out and it would be to a friend or Relly. I'd feel sorry for anyone who crossed my path if I and more importantly Mrs Deeps was living under a tarp.

[jansman]

I agee totally with featherstick and Deeps. Bug in. Even at the height of Summer, last night was cool and very wet. Living like some wild animal under a tarp or motorway bridge is a slow death sentence IMO.

[Rombo]

I may well be one of the crazy ones then...

To be fair it started out as a fun "little" project with my son, who watched far too many survival shows on the telly.
We've since constructed a roughly 10x8 hut from branches and mud in a patch of thick woodland. It's only about a mile away from a town of about 30,000. But in a place where it would never be seen or found.
It has an enclosed fire pit (with mud chimney) at one end, and stays surprisingly warm on chilly nights. Though we haven't tried a winter sleepover just yet...

It's around 50 metres from a very clear chalk stream, which merges with a larger river (absolutely teeming with crayfish). Rabbits everywhere.

So while I'd agree with the bug in majority. Bugging out doesn't have to be a death sentence.

We've stayed there for a week before, without having to visit Tesco.
So what started out as a project has turned into a rather viable bug out location. Plentiful fresh water, meat, fish, wood, fertile land.

Not sure how we'd cope long term. But with minimal skills and a perfectly legal air rifle, you'll never want for meat in this country. Especially as the hoards of ducks would be on the menu if shtf.

So in short, it's far from ideal, and I can't realistically imagine a situation where it'd be needed. But with some good planning and easily self-taught skills, bugging out can be fun... For a while at least.

Just remember the basics. Shelter, water, food.

[junmist]

As you will gather most of us are for bugging in, but a few on the forum are for bugging out. For a bug out location you need to think Water, Food and Shelter. But remember if you think it is a good place so will someone else, also think about how you are going to get there are you walking biking or getting there by car. Do think about bugging out to a family member or friend's house. Hope that helps a bit

[Deeps]

I may well be one of the crazy ones then...

To be fair it started out as a fun "little" project with my son, who watched far too many survival shows on the telly.
We've since constructed a roughly 10x8 hut from branches and mud in a patch of thick woodland. It's only about a mile away from a town of about 30,000. But in a place where it would never be seen or found.
It has an enclosed fire pit (with mud chimney) at one end, and stays surprisingly warm on chilly nights. Though we haven't tried a winter sleepover just yet...

It's around 50 metres from a very clear chalk stream, which merges with a larger river (absolutely teeming with crayfish). Rabbits everywhere.

So while I'd agree with the bug in majority. Bugging out doesn't have to be a death sentence.

We've stayed there for a week before, without having to visit Tesco.
So what started out as a project has turned into a rather viable bug out location. Plentiful fresh water, meat, fish, wood, fertile land.

Not sure how we'd cope long term. But with minimal skills and a perfectly legal air rifle, you'll never want for meat in this country. Especially as the hoards of ducks would be on the menu if shtf.

So in short, it's far from ideal, and I can't realistically imagine a situation where it'd be needed. But with some good planning and easily self-taught skills, bugging out can be fun... For a while at least.

Just remember the basics. Shelter, water, food.

Hi Rombo, obviously I don't know your situation but depending on what kind of SHTF situation you're in, you might find that you've got a lot of people out wandering through woods etc looking for things to eat, even ones who don't have a clue but are desperate, this might make your preplanned location more likely to be found. There's no harm in having them looked out but I wouldn't get to 'invested' in a location, certainly not enough to overtly stockpile there, if it ain't your land (or even if it is) then its fair game to anyone who finds it first. Potentially it could come down to 3 of them to 1 of you etc, and whether its worth the risk. I'm not trying to be negative, if you've found an idyllic location then it could possibly attract others.