JEFFERSON CITY, MO. ? An unexpectedly large muzzleloader deer harvest helped push Missouri’s 2001-2002 firearms deer harvest well above last season’s record level.

Hunters brought 8,662 deer to check stations during the muzzleloader segment of firearms deer season Dec. 1 through Dec. 9.

That is up 3,847 from the previous year, an 80 percent increase.

The January deer harvest increased, too, but just barely. This year’s January Extension deer kill was 14,668, just 12 more than in 2001.

The December and January hunts bring the 2001-2002 firearms deer harvest to 229,197.

That is up 8,662 from 2000-2001’s record-setting deer kill of 220,535.