I read where older plants tended to be alone but I cannot test that for lack of deer in this metro area. I can only assume they went elsewhere? :o) And no, I do not want them back either! Hee hee hee!

But if you do a search on the word "deer" in this forum, you will find that they are not picky when it comes to hydrangeas. Dogs and a tall fence might help. Sprays with odors can help too but, you have to reapply them after it rains.

They eat oakleafs readily here. Best solution is fencing.

I spray Liquid Fence on mine; they do eat them.

We have a large number of oakleafs in a local arboretum that has a deer population and we do not experience any browse damage. But based on previous responses to this topic, ours are the exception it seems. You might contact a local arboretum/garden/park to see if you do have this issue in your location.
Marshall

The deer nibble the branches of this and everything else in my yard in the winter, but don't bother the leaves in the summer. I believe there are other plants they prefer, especially perennials that are all suculent foliage (no tough branches).

We have deer and hydrangeas and hostas. They love the hostas first and then the hydangeas. Liquid fence helps.