I already pruned my hydrangeas. Their leaves are already unfurling so I decided not to wait any longer. I also cut my butterfly bushes almost to the ground. I'm watching everything else and act as soon as I can see signs of life.

Thanks Enith. It is forecast to continue warm and things are budding so early, I went out this morning and did some shrubs. My hydrangeas were pruned by deer -- I think I will give up on them. Darn.

Wow, deer ate your hydrangeas? I had no idea these plants are attractive to these animals. I grow numerous hydrangea types: macrophylla, arborescens, serrata, quercifolia and paniculata. Non of then were ever bothered by many deer visiting my yard every single day. But my Camellias are being destroyed regularly and I am close to giving up on those. So I feel your pain :-(

Deer and elk visit my garden regularly. So far they haven't touched my hydrangeas, and I've got them all over. Well, last year they stripped a H. paniculata, but haven't touched it this year. This year is the first they have eaten Aucuba and they've stripped the leaves off leaving just the stems.
They will grow back in a month or two.
The Fall rut killed 4 trees and damaged 10 more. The worst year for me on 10 acres and 35 years here. Fencing is not an option due to the terrain and economics. I live with it and try to plant things they don't kill. I can handle browsing.
Sapsuckers have done just as much damage and with greater variety than the deer and elk.
Mike
Stripped Aucuba

Yeah, it's strange sometimes what deer will decimate or ignore. Here in many parts of town, the deer have developed a taste for hydrangea and anemone. Anemone are actually marketed as being deer-resistant. They love the Camelia bushes too.