Keep an eye on the weather forecast. Leave them be for a while. But then just before the first freeze or snow, cover them with several inches of straw. Then they'll spring up just fine next spring. And maybe if this winter is as mild as the experts think it will be, you might actually be able to leave them uncovered into December this year -- seems unusual, and it is, but that's the way things seem to be this year. The long-range forecast for Great Lakes region is a very warm and mild late fall, followed by normal seasonal temperatures starting late December into January, and heavy snow in mid-to-late winter, then a very soggy spring. If you've already covered them, they'll probably be fine, but I figure the more sun they get for as long as they can get it, the more healthy they'll be for next year. I don't even prune mine. Just leave them be. Next spring, you can remove any dead or discolored leaves.

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/seasonal.php?lead=5

Cheers.

Like David I don't prune mine either, like you said the deer will prune them for you esp if winter is rough for them finding food sources. Covering them with pine needles is what I do and they will pop up thru the straw or pine needles when things warm up again. The pine needles also keep the berries off the ground and I may add more in spring if the old needles broke down too much.