How to tell if they are ripe...and what do ya'll do (or not) with them?? Pick off the tree or wait till the fruit drops?? I feel like I should be doing something with the fruit. At the very least I'm sure the critters are enjouing as there are seedlings popping up all over my yard.

Around here we let native/wild persimmons (Diospyros virginiana) drop when they are ripe - or easily shaken from the tree. Ones that are picked or still attached to a twig will often be very astringent. They should feel soft and look wrinkled. This is the wild/native ones and not the Asian or "apple" persimmon varieties. Persimmons are so good. Yum!

mine are the wild/native type. The color of ripe is kinda orange?

Yes, orange.