Skookum Archers Club and Range

Skookum Archers Club and Range operates the kind of facility that gets built once every 70 years. Established in 1951 by Henry Lange, Ed Arnold, Frank Marcoe, and William Stoner (who later became Puyallup's mayor), this 501(c)(3) non-profit sits on 39 acres of forested land in South Hill Puyallup and exists specifically to promote archery practice, host events, and teach the sport to youth and the general public.

The range covers serious ground:

The property is open every day from sunrise to sunset. No membership required to shoot—just pay the day fee or grab an annual pass.

For non-members: - Adults (18+): $10 per day - Youth (12-17): $5 per day - Children 11 & under: Free when accompanied by a paying adult (otherwise $5) - Annual Range Pass: $125 (covers the calendar year, card mailed to you) - Payment: Cash/check at the pro shop or pay stand; credit/debit via mobile app

No equipment? Take the Introduction to Archery class on Thursday evenings. $10 gets you 60 minutes of instruction and use of Genesis compound bows or recurve bows—the club provides everything. This is how beginners actually start without dropping money on gear first.

If you're going to shoot regularly, membership makes sense:

• •Active Adult: $175/year – 24/7 clubhouse access (heat/AC, kitchen, WiFi), lit 50-yard members-only range, tournament discounts, clubhouse rental for private parties. You get assigned volunteer work but can work down your renewal fee by 50% max with 20+ hours at $2.50/hour.
• •Active Family: $225/year – Covers primary member, spouse, and dependent children. Same benefits. 30-hour minimum for renewal discount.
• •Active Junior (under 18): $100/year – Same benefits as adults but no assigned work requirement, no voting rights, must be accompanied by an adult.
• •Out-of-Area Guest: $40/year – For people living 100+ miles away. Clubhouse and members' range only, no voting. Must sign up in person with a board member.
• •Life Membership: After 25 continuous years or pay a one-time lump sum (25× the Active Adult rate). No annual dues, full member benefits, no assigned duties.
• •Military Discount: 50% off initial and renewal rates for active duty, retirees, disabled veterans, and their families with proof of service.

Members can work down their renewal fee through volunteer service—this is an all-volunteer club, and that structure is intentional.

• •Skookum Rangers: Ages 8-18 youth archery club for members past the beginner stage with their own equipment. Meets Wednesday evenings 6:30-8 PM, led by Tournament Director and Level 3 Coach Steve Allen. No formal competition pressure—just goal-setting and coaching to build lifelong archers. Partially funded by the annual Halloween Fun Shoot.

• •Summer Field Archery Camp: Program for youth archery development.

The club polices itself. Members enforce the rules. Key points:

• •No firearms allowed (archery/crossbows/atlatls only)
• •Broadheads only in designated sand pits
• •Never backtrack on walk-through courses
• •Shooting from established lanes and stakes only
• •Always confirm the range is clear before advancing to retrieve arrows
• •No alcohol on the range or in clubhouse
• •No hunting or wildlife shooting—it's a designated backyard wildlife sanctuary
• •No smoking within 25 feet of doorways (Washington State Law)
• •Littering won't fly
• •Over-bowed archers and sky-drawing prohibited

Indoor archery league starting December 1st each year. 30-arrow Multi-Color format. Details available on their club calendar.

On-site pro shop for equipment, supplies, and support. Located at the range.

The club started with a vision from Henry Lange (a BIA employee and archer) who built a small range on North Hill in Edgewood in the late 1940s. By 1951, he'd convinced enough Puyallup-area sportsmen to establish the club formally. In 1959 it incorporated as a non-profit. The current 35-acre site (now listed as 39 acres) off Shaw Road has been home since the early 1960s. Founding members loaned the club money to buy the land—a debt that was finally paid off in 1965 with a "Mortgage Burning" ceremony. The original clubhouse (built by member volunteers) burned down and was replaced with the current structure, which has been expanded since. By 2000-2001, the site was fenced, the parking lot paved, and the current Pro Shop was built.

Address: 11209 Shaw Road East, Puyallup, WA Email: [email protected] Club Info Line: 253-446-6226 Great Northwest Archery Pro Shop: 253-841-0991