McG - there's a difference between longbow & warbow. The warbow requires regular practice if only because of the great strength required to draw it. A modern Olympic recurve usually draws about 35-40lb, max. The average warbow draws @135lb! Now you know why regular practice was required...

A hunting bow would be much lighter. The actual technique of archery is not *that* difficult to acquire. The difficulty is in keeping that technique steady when you are drawing weights at (or close to) your physical limits. I'm a reasonable shot. With a 45lb ash self- longbow, you'd be taking your life in your hands to stand in front of me at any distance up to 60y. That's more than hunting distance in most cases. As to 45lb draw, it's not as light as it might sound, but anyone used to regular physical effort (as most medieval people certainly would be) would have no problem drawing it.

135lb is another matter. That's why regular practice was required - to build & maintain the necessary muscle mass to cope with the demands required. A crossbow can be spanned with mechanical leverage, a longbow can't. This is why the French could buy companies of mercenary c/bowmen. It's the reason why they couldn't 'buy' longbowmen (it takes years of training & practice to be able to pull a warbow). It's also the reason why Guest is talking rubbish when he claims that a c/bow is 'an assault rifle'...