It is distinctly odd that not a single leaf broke from the stems after the deer onslaught. The green stems in the bottom photo are obviously alive, so I think I would protect the entire plant for the upcoming winter and hope for the best next spring.

The notches on the leaf edges of the basal growth are typical damage from vine weevils.

I thought it was odd too. The tips were almost black too. Do you recommend cutting the stems at this point? Anything I should do about the weevils?

I am an amateur, but I would say that if it has been a growing season and nothing has grown on the stems then it is probably safe to cut them back at this point and just leave the new growth.

Wait...with frost coming in a few month it may kill any new growth triggered by trimming? So maybe trim the stems back in dormancy then.

kitasei: There's a good deal about this that is pretty mysterious. First, while they will eat anything if hungry enough, deer do not tend to be fond of broad leaved rhododendrons. Yet in this case they removed every single leaf. Second, it does not seem credible that deer could also have managed to remove every single dormant bud from every single stem. Are there remnants of leaf buds still visible or are the stems completely bare? I'm beginning to suspect that while deer browsing took place, the main damage may have been caused by something else entirely such as extreme low temperatures or possibly male deer repeatedly rubbing against the stems. If the latter, at least some new growth ought to have emerged, though.

I would still allow the stems to remain over winter and see what happens next spring, especially to the green ones. Vine weevils are ever present and are more unsightly than lethal. They will soon go dormant with the first frost, but there are soil treatments that can help next spring. See what your county extension recommends.