The men at Augusta Meats say they have their work cut out for them, even if this year's deer harvest is slower than usual.

"It's a light deer season but way above expectations,” says Gary Pettis, owner of Augusta Meats. "We've only been getting about 65 to 70 when normally we have about 100."

The Department of Natural Resources says hunters have shot fewer deer so far this season.

“The registrations were down across the region, particularly among the antlerless,” says Kris Belling of the DNR.

Pettis says with the warm temperatures, hunters need to be conscious about meat safety.

“It's to warm for deer to be hanging up,” says Pettis. “Get them in right away!"

Pettis says he expects the season to pick up as temperatures are expected to drop back down to seasonal lows later this week.

“I think we'll have a good late weekend," says Pettis.

Pettis says venison meat tends to spoil easily. He says if you shoot a deer now when it's warmer, you have to get it in within 24 hours.

State wildlife officials say they sold about 626 thousand gun deer licenses going into opening day of the opener on Saturday. The DNR also says about 9500 licenses were given to 10-and-11-year-olds who could participate under the state's new youth hunt mentor program.