Deb, cut them off cleanly to start with. Did the bucks use them as rubs? If so, it could be problematic as to whether they will survive if the plants were small. That said, I can't imagine them being used as rubs. The gray dogwood I planted has been nibbled but not rubbed as in rut season rubbing - and they are doing just fine - even the one that was eaten to the ground is looking grand this year.