From what I have read you hit this buck once and didn't get the job done.
If you asked your friend not to shoot this buck because you felt a moral responsibility to finish the job yourself, I can understand that.(May not agree but understand)
If you asked your friend not to shoot this buck because of some sort of antler envy then that is just plain chicken $&!t.
Only question I have is would you have reacted the same way if it was a doe?
I started managing this property when I got out of the Marines 4 years ago. When I was on leave and hunted this property in the past there was only a couple of bucks on the property and was not unusual to only see a spike and basket racked 8 point. The does were out of control and the ratio was probably 5 does to 1 buck. I came in and put food plots in, cleared openings, created a sanctuary, hung treestands, and started a supplemental feeding program with record rack. All of this was done with my money, time, and effort by myself.
This summer my buddy was interested in this place cause he was seeing what I have done with it and some of the deer I was taking. I invited him to hunt here before this monster of a deer showed up. Was I suppose to tell him that he cant hunt out here until I shoot this deer?? or not at all?? After he showed I got approx 300 trail cam pics of him and continued to watch him. My buddy knew that this was a big deer and told me how he would like to shoot him but understood that I had worked hard and said he would be more than happy with the other big ones that were there. I DONT believe that I am chicken $#it for telling him not to shoot this buck. If it was antler envy then so be it but all this managing aint cheap.
As you all know I arrowed this buck a little high on the 4th day of season and after watching this buck all summer I felt like I lost a family member. I was not blaming any equipment just myself for rushing the shot. So yes I do want another shot at this buck and believe I deserve it.
As for your question about if I would of reacted the same way if it were a doe....well probably not cause I am not in the business of growing big does I am growing big bucks. I know does are important in managing but I just love seeing a buck that I pass on now possibly growing into something like this. I am different than most of my friends that would have shot half the bucks I passed on this year but I see the future in the buck not the present.