The Missouri Department of Conservation announces the harvest from the recently concluded Alternative Methods portion of the 2016 firearms deer season.

In the period from December 24th through January 3rd, alternative hunters bagged a total of 10,602 deer statewide.

That total includes over 6,300 does, nearly 1,500 button bucks and almost 2,800 antlered bucks.

The statewide total is about 400 less than a year ago.

The leading county for alternative hunters was Oregon County with 262 deer killed. In northeast Missouri, Pike County led the way with 199, followed by Macon County with 161 and Lincoln County with 148.

During alternative methods season, hunters can use muzzle-loading firearms, center-fire pistols, air-powered guns, bows and crossbows.

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