RE: Let him go? Gimme a break!
This is my second year of passing on 130 class bucks. I started holding out for 140 and better, last year. Got a 147 gross/143 net. It's not so hard to do if you've already got 1/2 a dozen 130s. My hunting areas allow for this. It took me years to find spots like this. You have to hunt where they live. This goal is my own personal thing that makes me happy. If it's not for you, don't try it. The bottom line is that you won't achieve your goal if you settle for something less. Make sure you know what lives in your area so you can set a realistic goal.
BTW, I've shot deer that I let go in the past. 25 to 30 inches in one year is about right for where I hunt. Also, most of the mature deer that I've taken, have been from tracts of 5 to 40 acres.