Hunters in Missouri harvested 260,552 deer during the 2014-2015 season, which ended Thursday at the conclusion of archery season, according to a news release from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

That number represents an increase of 7,978 deer, compared to the 252,574 checked in the previous year -- a 3 percent increase.

Hunters checked 51,755 deer during the archery season, with top counties being Jefferson with 1,080, St. Louis with 1,063 and Franklin with 1,032. The harvest for the previous year's deer archery season was 1,248 fewer, at 50,507.

The 2014-2015 archery turkey season also closed Thursday, with 2,587 birds checked in, compared to 2,546 the previous year. Top counties were Greene with 64, Franklin with 60 and Callaway with 54.

Hunting incidents

MDC reported 14 hunting incidents during deer season. Four were fatal, and they involved a fall from a tree stand, a heater explosion in a deer blind, a gunshot wound from another hunter and a heart attack while hunting.

2015-2016 season

Dates for the 2015-2016 firearms deer season are:

• Urban portion -- Oct. 9 through 12
• Early youth portion -- Oct. 31 and Nov. 1
• November portion -- Nov. 14 through 24
• Antlerless portion -- Nov. 25 through Dec. 6
• Alternative-methods portion -- Dec. 19 through 29
• Late youth portion -- Jan. 2 and 3

The 2015-2016 archery deer and turkey season will run Sept. 15 through Jan. 15, excluding the Nov. 14 through 24 portion.

More information on the completed deer season, past-year deer harvest summaries and county-by-county totals are available at mdc.mo.gov/node/29442.