If you had treated the freshly cut stumps with a few drops of concentrated glyphosate, you would not have anything to worry about. If you do get resprout, put some glyphosate in something like a mustard dispenser bottle (clearly labeled for safety) and use a few drops on the fresh cuts when you remove the top growth. Since you are only treating a small sprout, it is possible you'll have to do it more than once now, but results should be much better than having to dig up your whole woods.

BTW, most any RoundUp product may work, but the kind that does NOT promise quick action will work better. The added chemicals that produce quick results can actually inhibit the glyphosate's effectiveness and won't serve any beneficial purpose in this application.

A huge part of the problem is likely deer overpopulation. The things the deer don't like thrive because the deer strip everything else--it's not that the things the deer don't like are starving them.

So, yes, chances are if you have a deer problem, they'll be munched to the ground rapidly.

I can only have yummy natives in a protected spot because we back up to a preserve that has many stunted and starving deer because they don't allow hunting in most of the area. I've never seen such sad and skinny deer! I can have natives they don't like anywhere, obviously....

@greenhavenrdgarden I am reading this thread 9 years after you posted as I am about to embark on a similar backbreaking mission. Your situation fits mine to a tee. Our property is sprawled with barberry and we are next to a forest preserve with lots of deer.

9 years in, how have things worked out for you and do you have any lessons to share?

I really would rather not have to fence away the deer just to restore native plants.