Evaluate condensed tannins as a white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) repellent. This will be a field-based project. White-tailed deer use will be established in multiple soybean and cotton fields throughout North Carolina. Once baseline data are established, the treatment (condensed tannins) will be applied to sections of the field. White-tailed deer use of the field will be evaluated post treatment.

Evaluate quebracho condensed tannins as a white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) repellent. Field trials will be conducted in 6 soybean (10 acres/4 ha each) and 6 cotton (10 acres/4 ha each) fields following the normal plating and treatment schedule of the producers. We will separate each field into 3 equal sections that will be treated with a corresponding mixture of tannins and water (g/L): 0% (control), 10%, and 20%.

Camera traps: We will place three camera traps in each control or treatment plot in each field (18 cameras) to passively evaluate white-tailed deer and other wildlife use. Camera data will be used as a supplemental surrogate of white-tailed deer use and presence in each field.

Enclosures: We will establish 2 - 1 x 1 x 1 meter enclosures in each control or treatment section within each field (36 enclosures) to evaluate browsing intensity. We will randomly select 5 stems within each enclosure and outside each enclosure. All selected stems will be tagged with numbered zip ties. We will collect bi-monthly measurements on tagged plants to quantify grazing and browsing intensity.

Deer Spotlight Surveys: We will conduct diurnal and nocturnal spotlight surveys along established routes in each of the 6 fields during May-June and November-December, annually. Throughout the study period, we will record the number of deer

All results will be presented at grower meetings, field day presentations, webinars, at professional conferences, and to local producers through extension-based conferences and field events. Further, we will produce high quality videos and use electronic media updates and social media to disseminate results. Finally, results will be published as peer-reviewed manuscripts and in appropriate extension/outreach outlets.