2.5 yr old...ears look clean...not much of a fighter yet...I think he will be fine in a year or two. Take your time...don't worry about him hurting your genetics. Have fun and hunt. If you want to take him, you don't need an excuse about genetics...he's legal, so take him if you want. Hunting should give you a thrill. A lot of guys have shot bigger deer and would let him walk. Other folks might not have had as much luck and/or experience and this deer would give them a great rush. So, basically, do what your heart and mind lead you to. I just would caution you against trying to rationalize your decision to shoot down to the whole genetics argument.