[sprintman]

I recently bought 3 acres between Antlers and Snow. I'm from Iowa, and before I saw this forum I would not have questioned safety. Rural Iowa is so completely safe. After reading on this forum it looks like that may not be so in this part of Ok. Statements on here like "if it's not nailed down you'll lose it" and statements about people being nice to your face but not behind your back.I also know that people on forums sometimes point out the negative and not so much the pos. My plan had been to set an older but nice RV on the property and visit it a couple monthes out of the year. I would appreciate any feedback.........Thanks

[thepastorsson]

Like I've said before, I've never lived there per se, but I've visited enough over my lifetime to say that I'm familiar with it. I have two aunts that still live in Antlers, one aunt up in McAlester, another over in Delight, AR, and an uncle up in Tahlequah.

My mom's family did well for themselves, so my time spent in Antlers was in the nicer areas. It is a small town though, so there was poverty on display plenty enough. I don't know of my relatives having any problems at all, living in town. However, it is well known that certain "backwoods" areas have a lot of drug issues, mostly meth I believe. There are some that truly live close to what could be considered a third world lifestyle. I've seen some of these folks up close and personal, and they are pretty rough.

All that being said, I don't think most people have too much of an issue. You might want to call Pushmataha county sheriff's office and ask about specific areas. Good luck!

[#1soonerfan]

My job has taken me to Southeast Oklahoma on several occasions, and I work with a handful of people from that area (including one from Clayton).

Antlers is not a terrible place, and so long as your there a few months a year and not trying to make a living, you should probably be okay. With that in mind its best to go in with your eyes open.

The biggest problem with that area as thepastorsson touched on is the immense poverty that grips that area. It is very sad, really. And it has led to a host of other problems, most notably a significant drug trade. Meth, pills, pot farms, you name it it there. So long as you aren't doing drugs you're probably fine, but you should be aware of it.

Southeast Oklahoma kind of operates on a different wavelength then most areas of the state. I can't put my finger on it, but its just very "wild wild west," similar to areas in Appalachia or the Ozarks. I've heard some pretty disturbing stories of cronyism and nepotism from the leaders in that area. Two types of people live in that area: gloriously warm, friendly, salt-of-the-earth people who who give you the shirt off their back, and backwood hillbillies who are hostile to anyone they perceive as an outsider. Obviously, avoid the latter and you should be fine.

Would I have bought land in SE OK? Probably not. I would have gone to rural areas around Tulsa, which are still very green and hilly but more developed and less backwood, or near more progressive rural towns like Durant or Ardmore. But it seems a little late for that. It is indeed very beautiful down there, especially in the fall. Just understand you are going to a VERY different part of the country and it may take some adjustment from you personally.

[Talisman09]

I'd like to throw my 2 cents in here if I might. I live in SE Oklahoma, very small rural town, isolated (60+ mile RT to the nearest Walleyworld). #1soonerfan has touched on the crux of the problem down here, poverty. Unemployment is high, and there is a big disparity between the "have's" and "have not's". Educational attainment is lacking although there are some of the smartest people in the State living down here. I know of a nuclear physicist that has a drawl as long as any backwoods hillbilly and Road-House coveralls are his preferred attire, while living in a "wide-spot-in-the-road" community down here.

The area has many, many very good people but it also has a subculture of druggies and people with little or no moral or ethical qualities about them. Frankly, there are some folks down here that just flat need killin.

That being said, being aware of the situation will go a long way in helping you protect you and yours. Isolated property, seldom visited by the owner will most likely be visited by others, if something of value is to be had it more than likely will be. Take steps to secure your property, trail cameras well concealed in surrounding trees, locked gates, etc. can help.

Would I build a several thousands of dollars cabin retreat in the hills and outfit it with a big screen TV, generator, keep an ATV in the garage and a nice A/C unit to keep it cool in the summer? Not unless it had a very secure access, was visited frequently and had some kind of neighbor friend down the road who could monitor the in-and-out traffic to the site.

It might also be helpful to understand that the low population density in SE Oklahoma makes a major crime stand out like a sore thumb. There might be 2 murders a year in Leflore county and the news reverberates for months from the Texas state line to the I-40 highway. While Tulsa may have two murders a week and not much is said about it except on the evening news one night, one day of the week.

SE Oklahoma has it's beauty and many rewards, with some of the kindest, most honest and trustworthy people you will find anywhere, but it also has it's demons.

[sprintman]

I want to thank each of you for your thoughtful replies. I'm a nurse, work for a Hospice and tend to get along well with people and I think have good instincts as to when to "just let them be" I'm probably now as much concerned about leaving the RV down there unattended as anything. I was not planning on leaving anything of value in it. If others of you have comments, all are welcome.

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by sprintman

I want to thank each of you for your thoughtful replies. I'm a nurse, work for a Hospice and tend to get along well with people and I think have good instincts as to when to "just let them be" I'm probably now as much concerned about leaving the RV down there unattended as anything. I was not planning on leaving anything of value in it. If others of you have comments, all are welcome.

I've had family in the Finley/Snow area for decades and have visited there often. In fact, my grandpa ran stores in both towns at one time. (there are NO stores in either place now)

Knowing what I know about that area, if it were me, I wouldn't leave the RV there unattended, especially for months at a time. You'll come back one day and it'll be gone, burned, trashed or used as a meth lab.

And poverty or lack of opportunity isn't the problem. People have always been poor there for as long as I can remember (back to the 1950's). The problem is that Push county's remoteness and lack of services has made it a magnet for lowlifes, druggies, thieves and just about every other kind of assorted trash you can think of. They wouldn't work if you offered them $100 per hour. They PREFER living in junk piles back up the side roads doing whatever it is that class of people do all day.

Yes, there are decent, hard-working people around there, including my family who are mostly either retired or ranchers, but they're not going to be your problem. They're not the ones who will take advantage of your absence.