Going to deer camp is an interesting experience, filled with camaraderie, hardy meals, and never a lack of conversation. Debates run the gambit, from “What is the best caliber for hunting whitetail deer?” to “Should you butcher a deer as quickly as possible or age it for a few days or even weeks?” Often, the question that receives a good deal of discussion, with varied opinions, is “How long can you keep deer meat?”

Well, that depends! (Do you remember when you were a youngster and you asked a question and, more often than not, received a “yes” or “no” answer? These days, it seems that answers always start with “Well, that depends!”)

Let’s start with deer meat that is processed and stored in a freezer. According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, uncooked, frozen venison can be eaten up to 12 months after it is frozen. Frozen ground venison, or venison burger, is at its best quality if eaten before three months, and venison roasts and venison steaks are tastiest before they reach the six to nine-month mark. Does this mean that you should pitch any frozen venison after it reaches day 366? Of course not, and this is where the “that depends” comes in. If stored properly, frozen venison can last much longer. It’s not so much a case of the meat spoiling or going bad as it is a matter of stored venison tends to slowly lose its flavor and quality over time.

If any of the meat has started to lose its fresh red color and has begun to turn brown or has an off odor, it should be discarded. If the meat becomes freezer-burned or there are excessive ice crystals in the packaging, you can still eat the meat, but the flavor may suffer since freezer burn draws out moisture and flavor.

There’s good news regarding the quality and longevity of frozen deer meat, and that is, there are ways to enhance both the quality and longevity of frozen venison. First, trimming away any fat and connective tissue during the butchering process is beneficial since both go rancid more quickly than the meat.

Cut the meat into meal-size portions (about a pound or slightly less) to avoid leftover meat after cooking. There are numerous materials that work well in the wrapping of the various cuts of meat in preparation for freezing: heavily waxed paper such as butcher paper, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, freezer bags, and zip-close plastic bags. A very popular method of wrapping is first to wrap the raw meat with plastic wrap and then add a wrap of freezer paper, allowing for labeling of the various cuts. Don’t forget to date the packages, as it will be very beneficial whenever you decide to clean out the freezer and discard the older packages.

Perhaps the best insurance of quality and longevity is the use of a vacuum sealer. Vacuum sealing of any game meats removes most of the oxygen from the package, thus slowing the growth of bacteria. When first placing the packs in the freezer, make sure they are spaced out to allow enough air circulation for freezing. If they are stacked too tightly, they may not freeze all the way through or might freeze unevenly. After 24 hours in the freezer, you can stack them tightly.

Is deer meat good after two years in the freezer? Is it good after three years in the freezer? The answer is “Yes!” Even beyond three years in the freezer, deer meat can still be eaten. As long as it smells good, it’s good to eat. There may be signs of freezer burn, but this only affects the taste, not the safety, of the venison.

If you still have concerns, I would suggest two great alternatives to freezing venison. First is the canning of venison, and second is turning some of the meat into jerky. Much of the information about preserving venison indicates that both the canning of venison and the making of venison jerky will yield greater longevity for the meat. Canned venison will last for a very long time and is best kept on a shelf in the basement where it is cool and away from sunlight. Venison jerky, on the other hand, can be a problem — especially if you have any teenagers in the house! No matter where you store it (or hide it), it’s tough to keep for a very long time!