I pass on small bucks all the time. The closest I came to regretting one of my passes was when I passed on a 5 1/2 yr old buck. It was wide, I guessed 21", but it had a lot of broken points and stickers. I guessed it would dress at 210 lbs. I was holding off for something that would make P&Y. Three days later, my buddy shot it. The deer weighed 226 dressed, was 21 1/2" wide, had 13 points, grossed 135" and netted about 116. I stared at this deer long and hard before passing, but ten days later I shot a 10 point that grossed 141" and netted 135". That one weighed 205. So it was worth it for me that I passed on that first buck. No regretts.