tree shaker....I know commercial fruit growers have tree shakers that knock the fruit to the ground...I suppose you could build one yourself out of spare parts.

see link .... flip to web of images side.. designed which i linked you to

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

Some just hold their fruits into winter - desirable if you're a deer hunter, as most of the improved persimmon varieties drop their crop well before modern firearm season comes in here.

so from the responses received here I assume this is a rather natural occurrence for a persimmon tree?
I doubt I will really be interested in spending the money on a tree shaker unless I were to decide to try and sell the persimmons.
Using a ladder and a long stick might be my best bet really.
Also if it wasn't for the fact that to aim at any deer under the tree with a rifle would mean aiming towards the road that runs in a crescent around the property I probably would have already done that because they will be under the tree almost every morning in the winter.
Thanks for the input :)

That tree looks alot more than 25' tall -- my guess would be 35-40'. But it can be difficult estimating from a pic w/o something for reference.

TF,
I've looked at some of Jim Claypool's notes from his American persimmon breeding program - some selections were noted for holding their fruits - but, in my experience, none of the good named varieties available in the nursery trade - with the exception of some of the D.kakiXvirginiana hybrids - hold their fruits.
I have encountered 'wild' trees that do hold well into the winter; sometimes those fruits essentially 'freeze-dry', becoming sweeter and meatier after multiple freeze/thaw cycles - but most I've had a chance to sample were 'spitters' - not very tasty - but probably well-liked by the hooved rats.

I've sent scionwood from some of those really late/long-hanging trees to a friend in MS who's grafting them as a soft mast crop for wildlife on his properties.