Our central PA farm had its woodlot clearcut in the 1930s and is maybe 20 -30 years from being clearcut again. As the woods matured since I was kid in the 70s, the laurel declined and didn't provide much cover under the oaks. We started doing TSI and crown release 10-15 years ago. With more light on the floor, the laurel has thickened up in those areas and is now decent bedding cover. Thick enough that you can't see that far at ground level and some areas are thick enough you'd walk around but you could still look down into those areas from a deer stand. We also haven't had anything undesirable pop up in those areas either, autumn olive or barberry or honeysuckle. Deer do not to noticeably browse our laurel but our deer populations are not that high. I've heard some overpopulated areas just a few miles from our farm, unhuntable tracks next to ag fields, have almost no laurel or anything else below the browse line.
I think just opening your canopy to get more light will help you but it won't be overnight. Give it 5-10 years and you'll be happier. But probably not as a happy as if you clearcut a few areas and had other stuff take over. But if you have a good oak stand and want acorns today and timber income sometime in the future, thickening up the laurel with TSI might be your best option.
