Getting mad at him won't accomplish a single thing. If he's truly a friend you need to educate him, even if it takes a long time. Whatever you do, don't abandon him. He'll just keep doing what he's doing and there will be one less friend who might be able to sway his attitude.

The future of bowhunting lies with non-hunters, particularly women non-hunters. They are the largest voting segment of non-hunters and their opinions will sway legislation that could outlaw our sport. I think it's safe to say that women will not tolerate undue suffering for animals and that a sport that appears to have more than it's share of wounded but not recovered animals, will not be supported in their views. Don't think that it can't happen. It can and probably will some day. We have to delay this as long as we possibly can by showing true concern for a quick kill.

In 32 years of bowhunting whitetails, I have never wounded a deer that I didn't recover (90% died within a minute). I hold more pride in that accomplishment than any buck I've ever killed or ever will kill. When I take a shot, I know it's a dead deer and that it will die quickly and with little stress. I like it that way.

Maybe your friend should imagine that it's a pet (many out there do consider them pets) and he has to put it down. Now, is he going to just fling arrows from long distances, hoping to stick one in a good spot, or is he going to get real close and put the barrel in it's ear? Quick, easy kills are the result of hard work and having respect for the animal's death. We need your friend to start showing some empathy for his quarry if the future of bowhunting is to have a chance.