AverageOutdoorsman

  • Categories
    • Hunting
    • Fishing
    • Gear Reviews
    • Outdoors
    • Shooting Sports
  • Cooking
    • Bird Recipes
    • Fish Recipes
    • Venison Recipes
  • News
    • Hunting News
    • Fishing & Boating News
    • Archery News
    • Outdoors News
    • Firearms News
    • Automotive News
  • Downloads
    • Grizzly Bear Sounds And Why They Use Them & Downloads
    • Bobcat and Lynx Sounds
    • Chicken Sounds
    • Chipmunk Sounds
    • Cougar Sounds
    • Coyote Sounds: The Major Types And Their Uses
    • Crows and Ravens
    • Deer Sounds and Their Communication
    • Ducks and Geese
    • The Elk Bugle and Sounds Of The Seasons
    • Fox Sounds
    • Goat Sounds
    • Hawk Sounds and Their Meanings With Real Sounds
    • House Cat Sounds
    • Hunter Submitted Mixes
    • Learn What Lion Sounds Mean and Sound Like
    • Misc Critters
    • Moose Sounds
    • Mouse and Rat Sounds
    • Non Animal
    • Owl Sounds
    • Pig Sounds
    • Prairie Dog Sounds
    • Rabbit Sounds
    • Raccoon Sounds
    • Sasquatch Sounds and Possible Meanings
    • Sheep Sounds
    • Song Bird Sounds
    • Squirrel Sounds
    • Wild Turkey Calls And What They Mean
    • Upland Bird Sounds Quail Pheasant
    • The Gray Wolf Sounds and Downloads
    • Woodpecker Sounds
  • State DNR Websites
  • Store
You are here: Home / Latest Articles / Outdoors / The Harsh Realities of Going Off-Grid: What to Know Before You Go

The Harsh Realities of Going Off-Grid: What to Know Before You Go

January 22, 2020

A dream for a lot of people is going completely off the grid. Living isolated in the forest, desert, or on the top of a mountain and fending for yourself sounds tempting. A lot of hunters spend weeks or months surviving outside of society while they sport. 

However, going out for a little while knowing you have a hooked-up home to go back to and settling in the wilderness with no public electricity or utilities to rely on are two different stories. Before you pack your bags and build a solar hot water system to go off-grid, let’s go over the realities. Can you handle it?  

The Harsh Realities of Going Off-Grid: What to Know Before You Go great outdoors, survival skills Outdoors

You’ll Need to Protect Your Property

Living in the wilderness means you and your property are vulnerable to external damages. Animals, insects, and other humans can approach at any time. You need to ensure that your space is protected. Start with a sturdy fence, something barely noticeable from a distance. You’ll want to make sure that the structure doesn’t trap any animals, so you don’t have to kill them later on. 

Invest in a security camera system that you can operate 100% independently of any 3rd party company. Have a computer room where you can monitor what is happening on your property at all times. Most importantly, don’t be too paranoid. 

If You Don’t Know Your Area, You’re in Trouble

You’ll need to know the layout of the area you plan to move better than almost anything. From the rivers, babbles, and brooks to the natural disasters that can occur, you need to research the area. You can’t expect to move somewhere unless you know a bit about the geography, especially if you are going off-grid. 

Before you settle on a location, go out hunting or camping in the area. Take hikes, go for walks, or explore the place while you still have the comfort of a grid location. Once you have somewhere specific in mind, take trips there. Start with a week, then go for a month, then go for two months before you move out there permanently. 

Where Are You Getting Your Energy?

If you’re going off the grid, you can’t rely on public resources anymore. You’ll have a lot of freedom but a lot more responsibility to go with it. You don’t need to worry too much though as there are options for you. 

Renewable energy sources are an affordable way to keep yourself powered when you’re on your own. You can buy solar panels from camping stores, farming stores, and in some cases, online. To power the entire home through solar energy, you’ll need about 16 panels. You must also invest in a charge controller, batteries, power conditioning equipment, and meters/instructions. 

Are You Prepared to Hunt, Fish, and Grow Your Food?

Grocery stores are luxuries for those who want to continue to live on the grid. When going solo or moving your family into the wilderness, you’ll need to provide your food for yourself. You already know how to hunt, but you’ll need to teach the rest of your family. You should also brush up on fishing if you plan to move near a water source. 

Farming will be a huge and time-consuming part of your off-grid life. You’ll want to research the best fruits and vegetables to grow in your area. You also want to take some classes on farming before you leave society. 

You don’t need fancy guns or equipment since then you’ll have to rely on someone to repair and replace parts. 

Happy Living, Off-Grid or On

Whether this article inspired you to leap into off-grid living or reminded you that you aren’t ready, keep striving towards self-reliance. 

Filed Under: Outdoors Tagged With: great outdoors, survival skills

News & Press

SENTRY Products Group CEO, Mike Noell, Talks to The Mentors Radio

Everglades Restoration: Healing Our National Treasure

Here’s another chance to win a Firminator food plot implement!

German Precision Optics’ Binoculars Win

The Viper Archery Competition Target Sight and Target Scope

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Reviews
  • Advertise
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Tweets by @Avg_Outdoorsman

Recent Posts

  • SENTRY Products Group CEO, Mike Noell, Talks to The Mentors Radio
  • Everglades Restoration: Healing Our National Treasure
  • Here’s another chance to win a Firminator food plot implement!
  • 5 Cool Glock 43 Accessories Worth Purchasing
  • Crossbow vs Longbow

Copyright © 2021 AverageOutdoorsman.com · All Rights Reserved · Log in