If the persimmons are dropping, the deer won't be far behind.

This weekend, whitetails started dropping all over the state as Georgia's long awaited archery season got under way beneath some of the best hunting weather we've ever had this time of year.

If you think only a handful of the state's hunters chase their venison with arrows, consider this: during the 2008-2009 archery season, 91,234 hunters harvested more than 42,880 deer -- a rate that has remained relatively stable in recent years.

Under the new hunting and fishing license sales system, the primitive weapons license is no longer required to hunt during archery and primitive weapons seasons, but a regular hunting license is still mandatory, as is a separate Wildlife Management Area permit for public lands.

Archery only hunting runs through Oct. 9, followed by a black powder season Oct. 10-16, with regular firearms season opening Oct. 17.

DOVE BAITING: Four local hunters face misdemeanor charges after being caught in a baited dove field that wildlife authorities had flagged as off limits two days earlier.

Georgia Wildlife Resources Division officer detected bait that included sunflower seed on property owned by Merry Land & Investment Co. in Richmond County -- and issued warnings to nine hunters caught there on the Sept. 5 opening day of dove season.

Officers confiscated the hunters' birds and cited one man for not having a license, but released the others with verbal warnings, according to Georgia Department of Natural Resources records.

The field was then flagged with blaze-orange signs declaring it baited and off limits.

On Monday afternoon, authorities returned to the field -- and issued charges instead of warnings.

According to a booking report at the Richmond County Jail, Lawrence Fordham Hatcher, 54, of White Oak Road, Appling, was charged with illegal enticement of game.

Charged with hunting over bait were Lawrence Fordham Hatcher Jr., Robert Houston Mullins and Price Scott Sewell, according to DNR records.

DNR Law Enforcement Corp. Ben Payne said Hatcher Sr. had called DNR after the warnings were issued Sept. 5 and advised that he intended to hunt the field Monday afternoon despite the order declaring the area off limits.

Officers then went to the field, hid themselves and observed hunting activity after the orange signs were removed. Nine birds were confiscated.

The owners of the property are cooperating in the investigation, said Tennent Houston, president of Merry Land wheelchair; permanently require some type of mechanical aid to assist them in walking; or have had a single or double leg amputation. Each participant may bring someone to assist him or her in a non-hunting capacity.

The application deadline is Sept. 30 and details are available at www.srs.gov.

FREE FISHING: Georgia's Department of Natural Resources will offer free admission to all state parks and historic sites on Sept. 26, along with free fishing on all public state waters.

"This statewide celebration is a way for us to say 'thank you' to hunters, anglers, park visitors, volunteers and conservationists for their support of outdoor recreation," said DNR Commissioner Chris Clark.

Part of National Public Lands Day and National Hunting and Fishing Day, "GO FOR FREE, GEORGIA" activities include canoeing, archery, skeet shooting, trout fishing, hunting dog demonstrations and more.

State parks will waive the regular $5 parking fee, historic sites will open their doors at no cost, and Georgia residents will be able to fish without a fishing license or trout license on any public waters in the state.

To learn more about free day at state parks and historic sites, visit www.GeorgiaStateParks.org. For more information about free fishing and Outdoor Adventure Days, visit www.georgiawildlife.com.