Dad had an older buck, with a goofy rack, pretty much figured out coming into the season and told me if I wanted to take a crack at shooting him I better come out early before things changed. I headed out the first weekend of season and things worked out as planned (for once). Waited 4 years for an Iowa tag and hunted 1 1/2 hours.
I thought I hit him a little high (well he WAS a full 12 yards out), but looked good overall, good penetration and good blood where he jumped into the brush a few feet from the site of the hit. Gave him a couple hours and went back in to trail him. I would not use my blood tracking dog to track in Iowa, since as far as I know it has not been legalized, but he is so photogenic I like to have him in pictures. If I had put him on the track I bet he could have finished the 150 yards the deer went in 11 minutes.
Ended up hitting him good up/down, but a tad back, but a big Snuffer thru the liver and one lung did the job quick and he died on his feet. It still amazes me how fast it all happens, and you can think you saw things a bit different than they are. Shot him with a takedown RD longbow that my hunting buddy in MT built for me - 68 inches, 57@29 with a 2215 aluminum and the aforementioned big Snuffer.
The G2 on the left is 15 1/2 inches long, and the one on the right a couple inches shorter with the split. He's a 5 1/2 yr old and carries his mass well. This is the first one I've had the Old Man set me up on in about 15 years, but it looks like he's still got the knack!
Best of luck guys!
R