Where to start?

[Dnix]

I'm will be going archery elk hunting next fall. I have never archery hunted before. I want to hunt on the west side, hopefully somewhere within a 75 mile radius of Puyallup. Where are the elk and what are the prospects in this 75 mile radius?
What should be on my "to do" timeline and checklist for license(s) permits, etc..?

[Fowlweather25]

Get out and hammer the dirt roads bud! You will learn a lot better by getting your feet wet than asking on here. Personally Im not sure of an answer for your request but I hope you have thick skin cause people get hammered on here for asking where the animals are. Go to the wdfw web page and get some maps and start scoutin. good luck!

[Instinct]

Well ur timeline starts now as we speak, meaning any and every spare time and money u have needs to go to archery huntiing. First off get a bow, go to ur local bow shop check out bows n buy the best that u can afford (usually around 500 to 700 bucks). After u do that start shooting, go to 3d shoots, get a range finder and. Use that to help for a lil bit then after ya get used to shooting, shoot at targets with out it because ya may not get the chance to use it.  Do some research, use the search engine and wdfw website n look at the past hunting reports based on archery gmus in ur area. Second is research ur game not sure how long ya have been hunting. After ya figured out ur area and snow melts and have decided where to hunt, when u go camping go to ur hunting area that way u can scout at the same time.

[coachcw]

3d shoots are a good way to get used to judging yardage and fun to boot. , have your bow checked once a month or so to make sure its in tune and learn how to do minor repairs and tune on it . good luck

[seth30]

I have a target in my backyard, and the lenght is about 23 yards.  I shoot 4-5 sets a day, and I pratice at sitting postions, angles, and have even shot off my ladder.   I recommend you shoot every day until the season starts.  When that elk appears you NEED to work off muscle memory!  Like others said here, get out and burn some leather, find where they are at.  Get in shape, once you drop a elk that is when the work really starts.   

[h20hunter]

I would start your scouting in the c-post area. It holds good elk and has plenty of access. Consider putting in for area 212 & 690 for cow tags.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

As already stated, your Elk hunting begins NOW !!
Practice shooting your bow as much as possible, Skookum Archers out on Shaw road is a decent range, meet and talk to other Archers to help get you putting your arrows where you want them...
A few things to consider, are you hunting with anybody or on your own ?
Elk hunting by yourself is a daunting task for experienced hunters, let alone a first timer.
 an Elk laying on the ground is almost impossible for one (inexperienced) hunter to manage.
How much hunting have you done ?
Finding where Elk live is easy, finding Elk is not, there are Elk near Puyallup, but you might need to travel a little further than 75 miles to find decent hunting.
Practice shooting your bow...
Go to WDFW website and look at harvest reports to see  areas that produce a significant harvest, decide where you want to hunt, and go look at the country.
Use some gas, and boot leather, look for gates that either are locked, or will be during season, and get out and look.
Bring your bow, and some blunts, shoot rotten stumps from wherever you see them to practice.
Get Elknuts DVD's and watch them over and over, read his playbook.
Go to Roe Hunter resources and watch their seminars.
Practice shooting your bow.
Try to find some experienced Elk hunters willing to let you join their camp (talk to people you meet while scouting)
If you have a chosen area, contact the biologist for that area, might even contact (WDFW) enforcement, just to ask a few questions.
Practice shooting your bow, watch the DVD's, read the "Playbook", say good-by to you friends and family (and money) apologize to your boss (especially for August, when you will be useless)
Get out and use up your gas and boot leather, then forget everything you saw all summer, except all the places you were too wimpy to go look (steep timbered ravines and creekbottoms, nasty thickets, dense patches of reprod) These are the places the Elk will be,
Oh, ya, get some good raingear (and probably some new boots)
Practice shooting your bow...

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I forgot to answer you about the Tags/permits...
Buy them as soon as you can, the sooner the better, because all your money is going to be spent on fuel, calls, camoflage, fuel, arrows, broadhead, more calls, more arrows, more fuel etc.. and you might not any left by the time season rolls around.

[belkaholic]

great northwest on shaw road is a good shop. he is a little ruff on the edges but has always taken good care of me. he has a 3-d shoot every Thursday starting soon. 10$. there is alot of place to hunt within 75 miles. look for the state land and hit the woods! practice practice practice! do the walk through course and shoot from all over not just the stakes, its paper targets and only 5$. same place on shaw RD.