In real history, bows are really most skill dependent weapons. Close combat specilization does not require 'more body and muscle mass' than archery, but simply different tactis, equipments and skills. Longbows require pulling strength, and archers in real history, are certainly big, tall, strong men, who were also very strong opponenets in close combat, often deadly with a crude melee weapon, a dagger, an axe or hammer. I don't share the opininon that Elves 'small size' is a point. (Humans and Orcs have also specilaized ranged untis) However, Elves as a society, have more reason, more ecological pressure, and have more resources (time,material,skill etc) to make bows standard combat weapon, no matter how good they are at other weapons.

A successfull use of ranged weapons in correct combination, is the safest way to minimize casualties, given that you have much better archers in mass scale.ДЄny member of any race, who can masterize bow skill, would go after it. As an immortal race, Elves also are rare, and most of times been, outnumbered, and strategically more limited in 'casualty rates' therefore it is more costly for them to lose their members. Immortality is related to that preference not only for personal choice. But at the time LoTR takes place, Elves are weak in numbers and civilization, and therefore they prefer hidden in the woods.Д«ut there are enough number of references in the books to make us sense that bow is a preferred STANDARD weapon for Elves, no matter where they used to live. Tolkien does not classify them specifically as 'wood elves', neither tells that Elves always lived in the forests. Their leader told them he could try to offer protection from Nazgul, if he would have a battalion of elven archers like ancient times.ДЄccording to Silmarillion, Elves lived in open fields, in strong castle cities as well as forests. In the books (not in the film) between Shire and Bree, Frodo and hobbit fellows met (before or after Tom Bombadil I can't remember) a group of Elves.

Lord of the rings elven bow