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By Darlin Tillery
Life & Trends Reporter
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A woman who has been eating venison stored in her freezer for years by a friend who never came to collect it has been backed by netizens.
In a post on Reddit, user Thin_Pay_8149 explained that her husband’s friend had stored an entire deer’s worth of meat in their deep freezer, with cuts ranging from ribs to ground venison.
"He didn’t have room in his house, so he’s using our deep freezer," she wrote. "All the meat is nicely vacuum sealed and labeled."
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However, when the friend repeatedly declined to take any of the meat home, she began taking some for herself.
She noted, "My husband says I shouldn’t do that, but I argue, it’s basically our meat now. I’d rather eat it now than let it go bad.
"I’m not going to remind our friend that he has meat in our freezer anymore, because that meat is now mine."
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Reddit users flocked to the comments to weigh in, with the majority siding with the OP.
One declared, "At this point, it’s abandoned property. I would give him a last warning that if it isn’t collected, it will be eaten. Then you’re totally in the clear if you eat it."
Another user proposed a more direct approach to resolving the situation, writing, "Hey Ralph, we actually need some of that freezer space back. Please take at least 10 pounds of it with you next time you come over. Thanks so much!"
"I worked at a deer processor," one commenter added. "I honestly wouldn’t eat two-year-old meat. I mean, it probably tastes fine, but that’s a long time sitting.
"I’d eat it ASAP if I were you, and pretend it never existed. Or literally tell him, 'Hey, your meat is on the porch, buddy,' and leave it with him."
Abandoned Property
According to Cornell Law School’s Wex definitions, "Abandoned property is personal property that was left by an owner who intentionally relinquishes all rights to its control."
The article adds that courts “may have a difficult time distinguishing whether property is lost, mislaid, or abandoned,” and that such determinations are often left to a jury.
Several Redditors questioned the quality of the meat after having been stored for two years in the freezer. Guidance from Wilson Farm Meats notes that while frozen venison can remain safe indefinitely, quality declines over time.
“Steaks and roasts: 8 to 12 months with vacuum sealing,” the site states, adding that long-term storage can affect flavor and texture even if the meat is still technically safe to eat.
Newsweek has reached out to Thin_Pay_8149 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.
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