Before you get to these tactics, it is important you lay the foundation with fencing and if that is not an alternative, with trip indicators and monitoring tools to alert you someone is on your property.

Once those are in place, you can consider tactics that are more geared towards defense during a confrontation.

Spider Holes

There is a difference between a spider hole and a foxhole. A spider hole is traditionally a camouflaged observation post dug in the ground. A spider hole is not considered a fighting position.

The hole is just big enough for one person to squat or sit with a pack on and it has to be roomy enough for maneuvering a weapon as well. The top is concealed by what is found in the environment so it blends into the environment.

Dig spider holes along the perimeter so when occupied personnel can observe 360 degrees around the shelter. The holes have to far enough from the structure so when you receive radio signals that an intruder has breached the perimeter those near or in the shelter have time to ready for a possible attack.

Choose the locations carefully because you do not want them flooded during heavy rains, and you do not want to expend time and energy digging through heavy root systems. The holes must be camouflaged, and to test camouflage have the group that are not aware of where the holes were dug attempt to spot them from avenues of approach.

Foxholes

A foxhole is a defensive position, a position to retreat to or a position to take up when the shooting starts. A foxhole is bigger than a spider hole, and is dug big enough for two shooters or more to stand up in and to shoot over the berm. It allows a shooter to shoot while offering some cover from incoming rounds and shrapnel.

Foxholes located on your property would be firing positions away from the structure, but close enough to get to during a fight. If you fear your shelter might be burned or bombed then you would seek cover in a foxhole.

Foxholes should also have drainage sumps to keep it from filling with water. You can build up one side or all sides to create a berm using the soil from the hole, or you can use sandbags to deflect/stop rounds and flying shrapnel.

Perimeter defense starts with basics like fencing, motion detectors and other indicator tools that your property has an intruder on it

After that and particularly if you face a SHTF situation, you must consider a more robust system of perimeter defenses.

To learn more about tactical defense, please visit Preparing For SHTF.