You did the right thing. Situations like this are what create the headlines "Hunter killed mistaken for animal". Your buddy on the otherhand.
You made the right choice, I'd hunt with you. Every year in Wisco someone gets hurt in a hunting accident, one year a grandfather shot his grandson walking to his stand, I guess thew kid got bored or cold he walked up rapped in a brown blanket and granpa let him have it. I know some situation are tough calls but you deffinatly made the right decision.