The story sounds off to me. This was not a young deer, and a trophy by any states standards. If the farmer took it as he said, then one would think he would have it mounted. I find it hard to believe that he has equipment to plant/harvest fields, but doesn't have the equipment to get it out of the ravine? That being said, the laws are so incongruent. If he found it the following spring and it had died from EHD or old age, probably no questions asked. As usual, this is about money. Iowa does have to protect the "mystique" just like SD does with pheasant.