Id put IA in the top 5 at least. 2,3&4 places being a good debate and may take a few nights of research and drinks during discussion
Statistics in this discussion don't show squat IMO. As been stated before, and I know we are talking B&C states, but how many B&C or even P&Y bucks in IA don't get reported for the books? I can think of a lot of P&Y and a few B&C just from my group of friends that bow hunt, and my shotgun party. Only 2 that i can count have been. Surely there are a bunch that go unnoted in the other states as well. But in other sleeper states, or not so popular states... a higher percentage of those who shoot a buck to write home about will go for their name in print. Maybe Im Wrong, but wouldn't you want to get recognized if you lived in, and killed a sizable buck in a state that doesn't see the quantity of large bucks as other states? Where as alot of us iowans tend to be a little selfish when it comes to "our deer" and not wanting a lot of outside attention.
Point of points: buck entries of all kinds have become over rated in the concept of NR attention, local attention to specific areas with big deer, and in some cases (sadly) theft prevention.
(rant)And then we have our governor... that's another story cuz he just DGAF about deer and we will go from top 5- bottom 5 if things don't change(end rant)