I've eaten it from litterally still warm from the deer when it hit the pan, to over a year (we vacuum seal everything) and it's fine. I know some people that have their entire deer eaten within 2 months of when it was shot. We even ate a whole on the day after it was shot at deer camp one year. Damn near every time I butcher, I save 2 big steaks to eat fresh. Keeping it in the freezer before eating it is BUNK. Ejoy it whenever the mood strikes you.