Tell your friend that bears have in fact been killed by bows up here.. as a matter of fact they are more deadly on a bear than a rifle is. They cut threw the fat unlike a rifle that will expand and mushroom as it goes into a bear. More bears are lost or wounded by the rifle than a bow. Maybe because a bow hunter waits for a closer shot. I am not sure why but some guides up here would rather have a bow hunter than rifle hunters.. Good luck to you any ways..