Bowhunters in Missouri checked a record 35,988 deer during the 2005 archery deer season, boosting the year’s already impressive deer harvest to an even higher level.

The archery deer harvest tops last yaar’s total by 2,328.

Missouri’s firearms deer harvest, including deer taken during the urban, youth, November, muzzleloader and antlerless-only segments, was 273,905.

Together, the firearms and archery harvests total 309,893. That is about a third of the estimated statewide deer population.

It is enough to keep deer numbers in check in most of the state. Exceptions include urban areas, where hunting is less prevalent.

The fact that two urban counties — Jackson and Boone — made the top three statewide is an encouraging sign for cities looking for ways to control suburban deer populations.

Kansas City is in Jackson County; Columbia in Boone.