I am also from MN and would agree. One thing that happens up north is the "freezing" changes starches to sugars. Same reason why sugar beat farmers store their beats outside until they freeze as it turns the starches to sugars so they sugar can be processed out. Deer love sugar. The very tips of many plants also turn starches to sugar for energy processing.

I beleive another name for this shrub is "caragana". You can do some searches on the internet and find some good information on this shrub as well as many others.

If you have heavier or wetter soils, I would recommend using Redosier Dogwood for better results. This shrub is an excellent browse as well.

Browse is often a forgotten about in management plans. It is perennial and cost effective...as well as developing additional travel lanes and cooridors. There are many internet sites that you can purchase conservation grad (12 to 24 inche stock) shrubs/trees from.

Fencing can often be very costly. Another recommendation I would provide is to use "tree tubes" or tree protectors. These protectors will also provide 3 to 5 times the growth! I would also recommend spraying Roundup around the area of the shrub/tree to reduce competition. The tree tube can protect it from the spray or use some other tube if you are not using tree protectors.

Land DR