Helpful. Heritage. Maker. Museum. Kids. Clean. Courteous. Quantity. Quantity. Indoor AND Outdoor range.

Great place for all your archery needs. They are very knowledgeable and helpful. They have a very large inventory so I've always been able to walk out with everything I needed. read more

Family run, and not dissimilar to an old school barber shop in that they are well known & loved by patrons, as many young & old learned everything they know about archery from them. read more

Not a place that will ever get my business again, much less a referral. Just needed some BCY serving but he told me to buy it from online because he didn't want to sell me any! read more

I don't understand why this has low star ratings. The people are great. The range is a little gem in the mountains. The people are very friendly and the range is accessible and enjoyable. We enjoyed it and will be back. read more

Love this place. Popped in one morning to look around. Learned classes for kids were offered on Saturdays. Popped in a second time to share info about a local event. Got more info about archery classes for kids on Saturday for $10. Awesome. Where can you take your kid for an hour and spend only $10. They also offer classes for adults on Wednesdays. Not sure of the cost though. Third visit was the best. Got there early to make sure to get a lane for the class. FYI, kids must be at least 8 years old in order to attend class. My kid loved it. I read the other reviews about the customer service. I have to say if you are expecting to be catered to like your a millionaire, the. You are in the wrong place. If you treat the people behind the counter like your mom or dad, with kindness and respect, you will get awesome customer service. I enjoyed great conversation and I learned a little something. Please support local; family owned businesses. We are definitely going back. My kid even made a friend and got educated about an arm guard. read more

As soon as my 12 year old and I walked in the door the owner informed us from across the store that our bow was strung backward. It was a cheap old Montgomery Wards bow we got off eBay identical to one he enjoyed shooting at a friends house. I liked Tim's straight forwardness. He had one of his son's fit a new string correctly on the bow. He also pointed out which arrows we should buy to get started. We had been to Cabelo's with the false assumption their archery staff would be helpful... they were not helpful or knowledgeable. If you want to get into archery, or have questions about the sport, do yourself a favor and stop in at Viking Archery. We'll be back for sure! read more

We are not experienced archers. We had zero experience when we took a seven hour class a couple weeks ago so we can teach archery to kids. We loved it and decided we wanted to adopt it as a hobby. We thought we would go to Academy to get what we needed to practice at home, but one of the instructors, who has been an archer for 40 years, said he's been in archery stores all around the country and said this place is at least as good as any he's ever been to. Even though it was 90 minutes away, we decided to try it. I understand some of the earlier reviews complaining about the perceived gruffness of the staff, but it's because new customers don't understand the store and its business model; try taking a Sears riding lawn mower to a John Deere dealer for repair and see what kind of reception you get. The owners are a family and are real-deal archers. The wife has coached Olympians over the past five decades. The husband is 81 years old and knows more about the science and technology of bows and arrows than, well, damned near anybody. If he doesn't jump out of his chair when you walk in, remember, he's an octogenarian. And he doesn't gladly suffer fools. Their archery store will celebrate 60 years in business next year--it's the oldest store of its kind in the US. While we were not warmly greeted, once we professed ignorance and asked for guidance, we got it in spades. We spent 90 minutes getting a lesson on bows and arrows. He dissuaded us from getting the beginner bows we had used in our class and steered us to bows that were about the same price, but had greater and better features. He then fitted us for arrows (who knew?), which are custom made in the store. When we asked about the next step, he told us to go have lunch, come back in an hour, and everything would be ready. After a nice lunch at Richter's Antlers Cafe about five miles away, we came back to find everything ready--fitted and outfitted bows and arrows with the right tips. But, before we could go, he had us shoot in his indoor range. Although we had that initial seven hour lesson, we learned so much more from his tutelage on the range. He adjusted our stances and twice adjusted our sights. It was a great, great experience. And once he realizes that you are there to soak up his 60+ years of knowledge and not be a jerk, he is helpful, friendly, supportive, and delightful. Every Wednesday night, they offer archery classes for $20, supervised by the wife--the former Olympics coach. You can bet we'll occasionally make the three hour round trip. So, here are the takeaways: (1). If you go into this store with equipment they don't sell, don't expect them to help you (see the comment about Sears mowers and John Deere dealers, above). (2) If you go in with an attitude, don't be surprised to get one in return. (3). If you go in seeking help from the most knowledgeable people in Texas about archery, and treat the staff with the respect that they've earned and deserve, you will have an experience you will treasure for the rest of your life. And you'll learn a lot more about bows and arrows and archery than you knew when you walked in. We can't wait to go back. read more

I went into the shop to buy a Mathews bow(not knowing they were not a dealer) instead of being nice and professional the lady there badmouths the bow I sought interest in saying it's complete garbage, no good, stay away the brand is trash. Blah blah blah. Left that place went to a Mathews dealer in stonewall and got the hook up! read more

Absolutely horrible service! Rude and disrespectful old man working behind the counter. He was standoffish and demeaning from the start. Rolled his eyes and scoffed at my questions. I will NEVER give Viking my business! Called around other archery shops in the area, EVERY SINGLE ONE laughed when I told them about how rude that man was and how he treated me. Also, every one said they've had countless people who had negative things to say about that man come to them for their purchases and they wonder how he is still in business. Do yourself a favor and go to Mesquite Archery in San Antonio. Great customer service, competitive prices and well worth the drive. DO NOT give this place your business. read more

I would rather walk across a sea of legos barefoot before I go back to this archery shop. Their customer service is a -1 billion. I am building my own arrows as I am an avid bow hunter but I do not have an arrow saw. I walk into the shop and there is nobody there to help. I had to walk around aimlessly while this old man watched me and finally asked if I needed help. After he finished fussing at me I asked another question about a product I was looking for and got a snotty remark. Needless to say this place sucks and I made a yelp account just to give this piece of shit place a bad review. DO NOT GO HERE read more

Just made a call to Viking / Canyon Lake to inquire if they could restring my Parker Crossbow. The man said that there are not any Parker dealers any longer and didn't know where I would get a string. I said if I can get a string would you put it on. He said no the owner of Parker Bows died. He said he could not service Parker bows and did not know where to. I called Parker Bows. I told them the story and they said they did not understand what or why the man at Viking had told me such. I then purchased my string and it will be shipped. Still need to find someone to install the string. I usually use "The Bow Shop" in San Antonio but didn't want to make the drive. read more

This was the absolute worst archery shop. The owner of Vikings turned me away from getting my bow tuned for me, because I did not buy a bow from him. He was very disrespectful. As a Archer I was very excited to go to my first real pro shop. This man refused to service me in the first minute of being to the store. I had driven in from Texas State University in San Marcos to be turned away. I had even called in before I got there to know if they could adjust draw weight and the draw length. Over the phone they said they could do it all. Once I arrived it was a very different story. I will NEVER go back. read more

By far the worst service I have experienced from any business in my life. I'm from out of town but needed a simple tune up on my compound. I called last night with a genuine question about them working on my draw stops. The mans first response was "no I'm not working on that. You can do it yourself." I replied by telling him I couldn't because I don't have a bow press. He laughed at me and tried to make me feel stupid. So I honestly just hung up. I called back this morning with hopes of getting someone new on the phone. I asked if draw stops was something they could work on and he said "nope" and hung up. Don't waste your time or money on these clowns. I thought I had caught them on a bad day until I got on here and saw that so many other people had similar experiences. read more

Don't waste Time or money! The customer service is awful! The owner is one of the rudest people he turned me away from getting my bow tuned up. Saying "I've decided not to serve you" read more

My Family wanted to start shooting as a family. When asking questions the person helping us was rude and very short with us. He acted like he did have the time of day for us. He was more interested in working on repairing a bow instead of helping new customers. It appeared that if we were not "in the club" he was not going to spend the time with us. With the way this guy treated my wife, with her questions, she is thinking twice about picking up archery. Thank you very much for that sir!! I will not come back to your place if you paid me. Terrible service. No interest in helping new customers. read more

Would give ZERO stars if I could. WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE. The gentleman, which I assume is the owner based off of the other reviews labeling him as such, answered the phone in a terrible mood. My husband called to make an attempt to get a crossbow restrung. When he told the man the brand/type, he was incredibly short with us and basically said that he didn't know that brand, or type. Never attempted to figure out a way to help us. After US prompting the entire conversation and basically begging this guy to let us pay for a product/service we thought he offered he asked where we bought it, and told us "just go there". My husband said "Okay, well since y'all are an archery shop I just figured you would be able to help us." And the guy said "that's not archery" and HUNG UP ON US. Do not waste your time with this business, they obviously do not care about potential customers. read more

I went to this place at least half a dozen times before I spent a single dime here. Every single time I showed up and asked lots and lots of questions they were very polite and helpful and informative. They never gave me the feeling that I was wasting their time or tried to pressure me into buying something. Once I was ready to make a purchase I came in, did so, they didn't try to upsell me into something more expensive and more elaborate. They simply helped me with my transaction. I will certainly be returning the next time I need more supplies which will be soon. My wife has broken the first arrow. Thank you for such great service. read more

Viking Archery - Archery Near Me - Canyon Lake, Texas

Awesome shop! Check it out! Good folks. They know their stuff. Nice range. Reasonable prices. Archery lessons on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. Kids lessons on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. read more

Called look for Predator tactical lights. The the individual who answered the phone was wasn't much of a help. Only offering one-word responses. Customer service and information that I received was disappointing to say the least! read more

I love Viking archery they take care of you and get you set up with a bow perfect for you they don't try and up sell things that aren't necessary. My dad got me my first bow as a kid from them and I've bought every bow I've ever owned from them sense and as long as they are around I will always get my bows from them. I got my most resent one last week and like always they take great care of me and I walk out confident I made the right choice. Anytime someone asked me where to get a good bow or where to take their kid to get their first one I recommend them and any bad reviews about them are a reflection of the the person who went in the store not them because if you're are respectful they will take care of you I practically feel like family everything I walk in. read more

Tried visiting this place, as I needed to find a range to shoot my crossbow, and my compound has a broken string and I will need somebody to replace it. The experience was bad from the beginning. The guy I spoke to (who, from what he said, is probably the owner) didn't seem to appreciate my interrupting him when he wasn't doing anything, and basically told me "Go get a string, and I'll put it on for you." He certainly wasn't interested in offering me any assistance on where I might find a string, since the company that made my bow is no longer in business. Not going back. Will keep looking for an archery shop and a range somewhere near me. read more

I am literally sitting here with my mouth hanging open. I placed a call to ask if they had a particular part for a bow. The man who answered was clearly already in a fowl mood, as his responses were impatient, condescending and sarcastic from my first question. Throughout my inquiries he continued to make me feel like an idiot for asking if it could be ordered, since they didn't have it. He was SO rude and said, "how would I know, since I don't know what kind of bow it is." What a DICK! I knew I was done with this man and that my husband would need to call him back with the particulars, so I asked his name. Well, clearly he thought I was asking for his first born, as he followed with "darlin' my name has NOTHING to do with the part." I asked why he was being so rude, to which he replied, "why are you being such an ass hole?" I never got his name but I'd drive out of town before giving one dollar to a company with this level of customer service. From reading the other reviews, rude service seems to be the norm, rather than the exception. Take your money elsewhere, apparently the owners not only allow, but embrace this type of service. read more

SHIT POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. Very rude store owner. Did not give any assistance in helping me to make a purchase in his store. I found his demeanor very rude and opinionated when it came to me asking questions. The overall experience was so uncomfortable that I left without even making a purchase. I DO NOT RECOMMEND!!! read more

I do not usually post negative reviews but in this instance I will make an exception for the sake of warning people. My experience with Tim at Viking Archery was like so many others I have heard about since then. I've been bowhunting since the 1980's and most bowhunters I've met are the salt of the earth. Tim, on the other hand, was extremely rude for absolutely no reason - even after I had purchased a bow there a few weeks prior. I was shocked at how his behavior was completely unprovoked. In fact, I wondered if he had mistaken me for someone else. "Nope, that's just Tim" I was told by other archers. He even became threatening when I did not respond to his belligerence and started walking away from him to leave. I will not be back. Other people with similar experiences have wondered whether he might be bipolar and I certainly understand why. He has the worst reputation of anyone I have ever had the displeasure of meeting. I highly recommend going to any other reputable archery shop and avoiding Viking. read more

Well worth the drive to Viking Archery. For me it is 35 miles each way. Tim Whiteford is wonderful to talk to; however, don't come across as rude because he will give it back in full. I have been going there once a week for a year and I look forward to a great outing and chat with Tim if he is free. I have seen many interactions with with all levels of archers and they were each done professionally; including some real characters. Sit down and talk and you will have a good time. I am glad I ran into Tim and Lani after I retired. I picked up archery again after a loooong time away. I did not buy my bow or arrows from Viking, yet I have had no problems getting repairs, servicing or advice. Play mind games and it will be your loss. Be a good patron and you won't be disappointed. The best time to use the range is mid-day M-F. I love company when I am shooting. read more

Bear archery shop hands down! Very knowledgeable. Owner is the real deal! This place is amazing and has a 3D rage out back!

I absolutely enjoyed my experience here! From the moment I walked in, we were greeted with the nicest people. They were joyful and the conversation was delightful. Reading some views people say they were rude, well I say I severely disagree. Carl, who taught the lesson was informative and a great coach; he was patient and gave constructive criticism, as well as educating me about Archery, since this being my first time ever shooting a bow. Mr. Tim was very pleasant as well. Next time I'm in the area I will surely return. Lessons were only $10 an hour too, can't beat that! read more

Friendly knowledgeable staff. Answered all my questions. Although I only spent $5, they gave me the same attention as if I was spending $500. I will definitely be a return customer. read more

HOW IN THE WORLD DOES THIS IDIOT STAY IN BUSINESS?? I dropped in this shop for the first time with the possibility of rekindling my interest in competitive archery, what a mistake that was. The grumpy older guy in a plaid shirt sitting behind the counter watching tv could not have been more rude and disinterested, never greeting me or getting up from his chair. And there were NO other customers in the store. When I attempted to engage him in conversation, he was curt and bothered by it. Maybe I was interrupting one of the better re-runs of Hee Haw. How unfortunate. I started my career running an archery pro shop and it progressed into retail management, for the largest sporting goods store in the country. I can tell you without hesitation, this jerk would have been fired the first day on the job. I can't imagine what his employees think of him, if indeed he has any. A real shame because it's a beautiful store in a beautiful location. I look forward to him running the business into the ground. Then a real retail business owner can pick it up for pennies on the dollar and provide our wonderful local community with a great archery pro shop. But for now, carve your own bows and arrows and use old indian arrowheads if you have to, save time, gas, and your frustration on this place. read more

Great range & shop. I really enjoyed talking with Tim. This is one of the nicest shops I've been to. They seem to have everything. The range goes up to 100 yards and also has a 3d section that goes to about 70'ish yards. read more

Kevin Whiteford at Viking Archery (in Boerne, on I-10w, inside Wheeler's), has been great. Over the last 6 months he's helped with arrow selection, limb changes, notch ring installation, rest selection and installation, shooting tips, paper target selection (Yup, there actually are good reasons for using specific targets), bow draw-weight selections for different purposes, and has steered me away from expensive products that I had gone in there to buy, because a different type of item was what I actually needed. Last week, again, I had gone in and asked for an item (about $30). He listened and then instead of making that sale, he sold me something else for about $6. That day I shot better than any day since I was 19, a span of 40 years ago. (No, I don't want to say what it was, because I'm thinking that someone will detract from the review by starting a debate about the type of product.) You should go by and use their range as well. I actually live closer to San Antonio, and there are other archery places closer, but after having been to the other places over the last 18 years, I'll keep heading back to Boerne. read more

Very rude on the phone and condescending, all he wanted to do was argue with me. Very bad for business. If I could them no stars then I would. Don't waste your time on a business like that. read more

The owner, Tim is the WORST!!! I bought a new Hoyt, was told by his son it would be ready to go in 2 weeks. I called to check status in 2 weeks and Tim answered the phone. He is the least professional business owner I've ever dealt with. He berated me for calling to check the status. I had prepaid in cash and told Tim I was on my way for a refund. He laughed and told me there would be no refund. I told him I was on my way and I would get the refund or take it out of his worthless hide. Tim hung up on me but his wife Lannie called me before I reached the store. She begged me not to come to the store and that she would mail me my refund that day. True to her word I did receive my refund In a couple of days. If you're considering buying a boy from Viking Archery read some of the reviews about them. Then don't buy from Viking. You'll be doing yourself a favor. read more

My husband and son have been going to the Saturday morning and Wednesday night lessons for over a month now and love it. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend! read more

WORST BOW SHOP ON THE PLANET If a -1000 rating was possible this place should get it. The staff was generally nice, I have stopped in a few times grab a small item or two or get a new string put on a bow over the years. Until today. I was interested in purchasing a fully loaded/decked out new bow. Upon entering the store I saw the same gentleman I usually deal with. After the usual cordials I started to ask about a bow, I also asked who the owner of the shop was. He pointed to a man sitting at a table reading a paper. I walked over to introduce myself, told him my name and put my hand out to shake hands. I am from Texas, we like to shake hands and meet business owners we are about to spend $1,000+ with. This arrogant old man refused to put his hand out to shake mine, wouldn't look at up at me, and wouldn't even peel is wrinkled old nose out of his newspaper to acknowledge a customer. I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE STORE!!! Trying to give him the benefit of the doubt I still tried to strike up a conversation and asked him what bow he recommended for someone with my excessive height, he still ignored me. Great way to make a sale! I then asked him if he knew that bow hunting was illegal on 10 acres or less in Comal County (still trying to give the old fart the benefit of the doubt that maybe he was def and didn't hear my earlier attempts). Well, that got his attention, he looked up at me and asked, "how long have you lived here." Of course I told him about a year since I built my house but I have always owned land in Comal county and grew up here. He looked at me and said, well, "you are wrong, you can't hunt with a rifle or gun you can certainly hunt with a bow on 10 acres or less. I do it all the time." I didn't want to argue much, but at this point I already made the decision NOT to ever do business with someone that won't shake my hand so I couldn't help. I told him he might want to look into ordinance 422825. Which in 1993 Comal County commissioners banded bow hunting on 10 acres or less in the unincorporated areas of Comal County. As I walked out he said, "good day sir." I replied it is unfortunate that I will tell every person I know in the outdoor community to never come in this store. He said he doesn't care he has sold bows, "all over the world" and he is "way older than me and I am to young to know anything" Yep, at my "young" 40 years and having managed tens of thousands of acres of hunting property in Texas in my life, and having bowed my first deer at the age of 8 I don't know anything...ha, ha. Well, it gets better, he hopped up from his seat, followed me outside threatening me the whole way that he would have me arrested and he has me on camera (for what I wonder). Also stating he would, "shoot me with a bow because that is legal on 10 acres or less." Funny how he waited to be outside away from his staff to say this. Needless to say, don't ever go in this place. I have read tons of reviews just like this not payed much attention, but they are true. Arrogant, Entitled, crappy business person that should be shown by his customers NOT going into his store how to treat someone. Again, don't waste your time here, there are plenty of bow shops that are very nice and appreciate business and customers. Try Fred's bow shop or even Cabela's or Bass Pro. This place is horrible. read more