Skookum Archers Club and Range

COMPOUND or BAREBOW? Now that’s the question! Skookum wrapped up the weekend by hosting the 2024 Senior Games. We hope you had a great time and would love to have you tag us or share your photos in the comments below.

Final scores from the Skookum 900 yesterday. Congragulations to all shooters who braved the heat for this shoot.

Special guest at the Skookum 900 today.

The range is set-up and the flights are done for the pre-registered shooters. See you tomorrow morning!

We have decided to cancel the Dirty 30 3D tournament this year. It conflicts with the WSAA Target Championship and with the recent changes in the WSAA board our normal tournament crew will be assisting with the state shoot. We hope you understand and will join us for our next shoot in October.

Please enjoy the holiday with your friends and family in a safe manner. Fireworks of any kind are not allowed on our property.

Greater Oregon Safari bound?????

HYDRATE! HYDRATE! HYDRATE!

D Course now open with NFAA Animal targets and stakes.

We have these three 122cm rounds with two of the backer bags left. The centers are blown out but might still be usable, light poundage bows only. Free, first come first served.

For those participating in the Senior Games on July 21st. If your registration is postmarked by TODAY, you will receive the $10 earlybird special. (see below)

WSSG: General Information Puget Sound Washington State, Senior Games Informational Web Site. Events Index, Locations, Times, and Registration Information.

Selling 4 complete sets, round & bag $25 each. These would only be good for low poundage bows, nothing heavier than 40 lbs.

The C course project to install backstops and replace the target stands is underway. We've made the decision to close the course until further notice. This will allow us to complete the work more efficiently and get the course back up and running sooner.

Send a message to learn more

Just here for the comments!😊

Will you be attending the 2025 NFAA indoor nationals at the NEW location in Chicago?

Heads up, hunters! We've extended the special hunt permit application deadline one week, until midnight May 22.

WDFW made this change to allow hunters more time to complete their applications using printed copies of the 2024 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations pamphlet, which are due to arrive at vendors and WDFW offices soon.

“We have heard feedback from many hunters that the original deadline did not provide enough time to reference a physical copy of the latest big game hunting regulations before the special hunt permit application deadline,” said Anis Aoude, WDFW game division manager. “We understand that being able to reference the physical document while you fill out your web application can be helpful. We hope this extended deadline provides everyone ample opportunity to submit their applications.”

Read more in today's news release: https://wdfw.wa.gov/newsroom/news-release/wdfw-extends-special-hunt-permit-application-deadline-may-22

📸 A hunter sitting on a rock in a field, using binoculars to look off in the distance. Photo by Pashiya Sandum.

Archery is for everyone! All ages and abilities welcome. Stop by our booth at the Washington State Spring Fair!

Drunk or high? Stolen?

We are often asked, what does Skookum mean or where did the name come from? If you google Skookum you'll find lots of results, many local businesses and a few place names, like the Skookumchuck River. Wikipedia has this, which covers most of the commonly accepted definitions of the word.

Skookum is a Chinook Jargon word that has historical use in the Pacific Northwest. It has a range of meanings, commonly associated with an English translation of strong or monstrous. The word can mean strong, greatest, powerful, ultimate, or brave. Something can be skookum, meaning "strong" or "monstrously significant". When used in reference to another person, e.g. "he's skookum", it conveys connotations of reliability or a monstrous nature, as well as strength, size or a hard-working nature.

You might have noticed the word monstrous in that definition. If you read the Wikipedia page a bit further you'll see this:

A skookum is a variety of mountain giant or monster similar to the Sasquatch or Bigfoot.[2] In the surviving Chinuk-Wawa spoken in Grand Ronde, Oregon, this variant is pronounced differently—skoo-KOOM—but when used in English with this meaning, it is pronounced the same way as the "big and strong" meaning.
Skookums were bad spirits or devils of which crows, eagles, owls, blue jays, various beasts and reptiles could be representations. They could inhabit people and cause serious illness.

While we prefer the first definition, the second one came to mind when we received a letter recently from a neighbor. (transcribed below)

Dear "Archers"
Recently while at a local riding stable, I was talking to a lady, age 89 who used to ride horses up Shaw Road, continuing up the hill behind Skookum Archers. This was in the late 1930's and early 40's. In a very matter of fact tone, she said "I remember as we came into the area where their building is now, our horses would get very nervous, and often rear, we could never figure out why. Then 3 different times, we saw, off to the side a hairy creature that our Dad told us was Bigfoot. Once, he was standing on the trail, other times standing under a large fir tree, kind of stooped over. We were scared to stop and watch him, especially since our horses were nervous and we didn't want to get bucked off. But I saw him, I remember him, and there was a smell in the area. We always knew when he was around because of the smell."
She also said, "We talked to other riders on the trails, and they had seen him too." This was back when Shaw Road was dirt, a very long time ago.

We don't think he's all that scary.

The final inspection for the ramp and plaza was done today. The county is happy with the work. The temporary fence is gone and the ramp and plaza are open and ready for our use. Please stay off the dirt area's. They will get seeded and can not be trampled over until at least the second mowing.

Volunteer Opportunities at the Skookum Try Archery Booth!

Spring Fair Tickets Purchase at thefair.com