Many urban and suburban preppers have made investments in rural properties which they plan to use should the SHTF. But how much do you really know about the property or the area if you aren’t there full time? What are the habits of local wildlife, when are they in the area and what times do they move through the property? Are there other security threats that need to be considered?
It is vitally important to have working knowledge of your chosen bug-out location and trail cameras can provide a glimpse of what goes on when you aren’t around.
Take your time when selecting a trail camera and look at reviews to determine what features are available within your price range. Resist the temptation to buy a cheap camera! We learned from our first purchase of a $50, “budget”, camera that you get what you pay for and we spent much more than the purchase price on batteries with very few pictures between battery changes.
The camera we have now (and that took all of the photos in this post) is an older Cuddeback model and despite some less than flattering reviews, we have had no problems with the camera. LONG battery life, up to four months, and high quality images.
Bug-Out Location Security Threats
Beyond giving the property owner an idea of what wildlife is in the area, the trail camera can alert the owner to security risks as well. Are people trespassing on the property? Who are they and would they pose a threat during a crisis? We captured a human on our camera recently and were able to determine that it was only a real estate agent walking the neighboring property which went on the market a few weeks later.
Risks to you and your family can come in the form of other animals as well. Would you let your children roam freely on the property if you knew that dogs were on the loose near your property? Are these friendly pets belonging to a neighbor or are they feral dogs? In more urban settings stray dogs are handled by animal control but pose a very different threat in rural areas.
Walking your property every once in a while won’t give you the insights you need to make informed decisions about the safety of yourself and your family at your bug-out location. A minimal investment in a trail camera can help you plan your hunt to ensure that your family has food in a crisis but can alert you to security threats as well.
When faced with a crisis, you are the only person who can be counted on to provide for yourself and your family’s needs. Having access to water and a supply of shelf stable foods are also important factors to consider as you develop contingency plans for your bug-out location.