The venison from old critters like that needs to be aged. I age mine at least 1 week at 32 degrees. The chemicals responsible for the gamey taste need at least that long to break down.

A friend of mine once had that scenario happen to him. We found the deer easily the next morning and I handed him my knife to start the dressing job. He about gagged. On the ride home he was extrememly quiet and once home he offered the deer to me. I took it, but I explained why. I told him that I figured that he was going to throw it away and that there was nothing wrong with it other than the smell. He was ashamed of the deer and the shot and didn't want to deal with it.

Guess what he ate the next time he and his wife showed up at my house. They never knew the difference.

We don't hunt together any longer.

~Will Hunt For Food~