Last Updated on January 27, 2023 by admin_hunter
When you are a prepper, it is not always easy to choose what state to call home. If you are thinking about moving to another state, you need to take a few things into consideration. For instance, not all states endorse off-the-grid living. You also need to take your skill set into account.
On this page, we are taking a look at the best states for survival preppers and what you need should take into account before you make that crucial move.
Does the State Allow Off The Grid Living?
Most preppers like to live off-grid. When that is your main criteria, you need to check out the states that are less regulated. For instance, can you rear your own livestock and carry a gun without having to jump through too many hoops?
Also, does the state allow homeschooling? Many preppers like to home-school their kids. When you are moving with a family make sure the state allows homeschooling and can support your needs as a parent.
What Skills Do You Have?
Don’t think for one moment that moving out of the city and becoming a prepper is something you can do overnight. Prepping comes with a rather steep learning curve.
Going to the supermarket every week for food is not something that preppers do. Instead, many preppers grow their own food, keep livestock, and may even hunt. Can you do that?
When you have previous experience of all three, your choice instantly becomes wider. You could consider the less densely populated states including Montana and Tennessee.
All though it does get cold in Montana, you still have a pretty long growing season. Yes, if you want to feed yourself and your family you need to think about how you can provide for them. Growing food is an important prepper skill you need to have.
One way of extending the growing season is by constructing your own polytunnel. That way, you can grow your own vegetables and other crops all year round. In warmer states, your polytunnel will protect your crops from the heat. In the cold states, the addition of a polytunnel lets you grow a huge range of crops. But, it helps if you have previous experience growing crops in a polytunnel.
The Climate Affects Your Lifestyle
When you choose one of the cooler states, you need to think about what accommodation you can build or buy.
Cold weather is a major threat to life. When you settle in one of the colder states, you need access to a warm cabin or another style of home. Make sure that you have a heat source that keeps the warm in and the cold out. That means your home needs to be well-insulated.
This particularly applies to preppers that settle in states such as Montana and Alaska. Heavy snowfall is a problem in both of these states. During the colder part of the year, you may find yourself cut off from others. Can you handle that?
Drought can also affect your lifestyle. When you live off-grid, you will probably be responsible for sourcing your own water. That means it has to come out of the sky or the ground.
Water is an important part of off-grid living. It is used for hygiene, cooking, looking after livestock, and growing crops The “drier” states include Texas and Arizona.
However, there is an upside to choosing a warmer state. Solar energy has come a long way in recent years. Harnessing this natural energy source is an excellent way of living off-grid with many modern conveniences.
Hunting For Food
Unless you are going to rear all of your own livestock for food, you will need to go hunting or fishing.
The best states for hunting and fishing include Montana and Missouri. Maine along with Alaska are two other states that offer plenty of opportunities for catching your own food. On top of that, all four states are great places for foraging and finding food growing wild.
One skill that you will need to have as a prepper is food preparation. That applies to cooking as well as preparing your food for storage.
How Much Is A Piece of Land Going To Cost?
Should you go for a bargain? That may sound like a good idea to start with, but it is not always the best way to go.
Of course, the amount of land you get for your money matters a great deal. The more land you have, the more things you can do with it. That is important when you are thinking about keeping livestock and growing your own crops.
But, what about the accommodation itself? Should you buy a run-down property you need to fix up? The problem with doing so is that it can cost you more than you think.
Often, when you buy a piece of land, you will find the quality of the land is reflected in the price tag. States offering good value for money when it comes to land include North Carolina and Oregon.
How Close Are You To Civilization?
There are two outside factors that may affect your prepper lifestyle. They are man-made disasters and natural disasters. Living close to a nuclear power station is not such a good idea. At the same time, setting up a home close to a volcano or active earthquake fault line is not smart.
Before you buy a piece of land or property, do your research and ascertain if there are any potential “threats” or elevated risks nearby.
Remember that crime is one of the factors that can be seen as a threat. Crime is often a problem for preppers that live in the more densely populated states.
The best states for survival preppers include:
- Montana
- Alaska
- Texas
- Arizona
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Maine
- Missouri
- Tenessee
Final Thoughts
Moving and buying a property is all about planning ahead. What climate suits you? Are you a cold weather or a warm-weather person?
Don’t forget to take all of the factors mentioned into account before you make your move.
Sit down and make a list of the pros and cons of each state. That is how you find the perfect state for you and your family.