David U,
The 8 pointer is definitely mature... depending on your definition. This is the third season I have been getting pictures of him, so I'm guessing 3.5 years old. He's got a good chance of getting bigger and older... he's smart, and stays nocturnal. I've never seen him, but he is a resident deer.
In my area of north Texas, this is a good deer. Too many small tracts and indescriminate trigger pullers, so the bucks have a tough time growing 3.5 years old. That may change next year...TPWD is talking about putting in a 13" spread minimum for most north Texas counties in the 2009 hunting season. That will let the younger bucks have a chance, for sure.
The hogs knocked down 3 out of 4 feeders in one week before I learned to bury the legs in the ground. I bury them about 12 inches deep... no problems in the last two years.
