: Many an otherwise interesting Tolkien discussion has been derailed by this kind of thinking. It is reasonable to infer that the Rangers knew how to use their bows in some fashion. Tolkien would not have had them carry weapons they couldn't use.

: It is, however, unreasonable to start assuming, "Well, he doesn't say they DON'T have extra padding in their boots, therefore it's okay to suggest they did have it".

: The texts support many reasonable inferences. As Martin pointed out, it is reasonable to infer that there were hidden strongholds somewhere in Eriador, even if these were not necessarily the primary abodes of the Dunedain of the North. It is not reasonable, however, to guess that there was some huge hidden city of the Dunedain simply because Tolkien didn't say it wasn't there.

: If the only support for an idea is the absence of denial, then there is absolutely no support for the idea. Tolkien's world has limits, and I think those limits should be sought, not circumvented.

I apologise for the way that my above statement sounds, I was a bit of a hurry and chose my words in haste.

I absolutely agree with you in the fact that "if the only support for an idea is the absence of denial then there is absolutely no support for the idea."

BUT there is support for the idea that both the Dunadain & the Rangers used archery in some form or other by the allusions that are given by Tolkien (Martin has mentioned some in previous posts). Therefore my statement was not totally unfounded (rather, badly worded) because though Tolkien does not write of the Dunadains' use of the bow, the mere fact that they, at some point, carry bows alludes the purpose thereof.