I put enough venison in the freezer to last me from one season to the next, I would rather have some left over than to run out and have to go buy beef. I double wrap mine in the waxed, white freezer paper, and have eaten some that got "lost" in the freezer that was over two years old. Any freezer burn can be cut off, if there is too much, or if it's too old, you can tell by the smell. It's not a bad smell, just smells old, and will taste the same way.