Although for hunting he might have used a more manoeuvrable bow, at other times Robin Hood would have employed one of the the most powerful weapons of medieval times: The Longbow.
Traditionally made from yew, they were often over 6 feet in length and required great practice and strength to operate effectively.
Whether the bow was initially as long and powerful as in its heyday in the 14th and 15th centuries is a point of contention, but the chances are that a powerful yew bow was in use at the time of Robin Hood. It is suggested that the range of the longbow could be as much as 400 yards (370m).
The Welsh used the longbow to fight off attacks from the English before the end of the 11th century, and the English soon adopted it as well. In the 14th Century, so much yew was harvested that a serious shortage was reported. Legend has it that Robin Hood's longbow was made from a yew in Papplewick Churchyard.
Longbow arrows were about 3 feet long and came in a various types according to whether one wanted to bring down a horse, pierce chain mail or armour plate.
So powerful was the bow that skeletons of longbow archers are often found deformed, with enlarged left arms and bone spurs on their left wrists, left shoulders and right fingers. A skilled military archer would have been capable of firing 12 arrows per minute, and we can be sure Robin Hood would have matched that.
There is a small stand of yews just inside the Birklands West SSSI close to the cache location, and you'll see small yews right against the cache itself. The cache is hidden just off the main track, and can be accessed without difficulty; but the area is deep in the forest and well away from main roads.
With thanks to the Forestry Commission for granting permission.