Cold temperatures and a blanket of snow over a large portion of Maryland's hunting grounds helped push the deer kill during the two-week modern firearms season to 9 percent above last year's total.

The state Department of Natural Resources preliminary statistics show 41,469 deer were bagged, 15,473 of them on Nov. 30, opening day. The total reverses last year's 11 percent drop, but does not bring the number back to the record level of 48,248 animals shot in 2000.

Frederick County led the way in the total number of deer killed - 4,109 - a 23 percent increase over last year. But Anne Arundel County had the largest percentage increase, 107 percent, from 632 deer to 1,311 deer.

"Overall, the numbers say what's good about our deer management plan. It's working," said Paul Peditto, chief of the DNR Wildlife and Heritage Division. "We're seeing the numbers and population flatten in rural areas and an increase in the harvest of deer in more suburban counties."

Six counties had decreases from a year ago: Calvert (36 percent), Charles (10 percent), Queen Anne's (2 percent), St. Mary's (19 percent), Washington (8 percent) and Wicomico (9 percent).

In this region, Baltimore County increased almost 5 percent to 1,513 deer killed; Carroll was up 6 percent to 2,356; Howard rose 28 percent to 544; and Harford rose 15 percent to 1,070.

Peditto said farmers in Anne Arundel, Howard and Montgomery are providing more access to their land.

The official totals for the 2002-03 season will be released in February, Peditto said.