Update, (I promise pictures soon)
Pulled cards quick in this clearing (hung on a discovered crab apple tree that is a great producer). Was tough to tell but a ton of the chokeberry and dogwood appear to have been located and nipped down by the deer. I didn't have the time to linger long and lot of dying weeds and big blue stem stalks from what seed of that took that I spread as I had some leftover.
The area is for sure struggling to regen with woody items but it's only been half a growing period and we will see what the spring brings. I am thinking of expediting some cover options with a few mature (5 gallon) potted red osier and chokeberry bushes a landscaping buddy has leftover as stock and will make me a deal on. He's also got a full 8 foot multi trunked service berry he said I can take as a few trunks broke in transport and he cannot install at jobsites...also think a fencing plan for a few of the planted chokes and red osier will occur as well (give them one or two years unharmed) so they can withstand and actually be triggered to grow better with brows.
Have a ton of young white pines growing in one part of the property, might try transplanting a couple as well for something different and fast growing (just one or two don't want more).