" The only problem is that some hang on the trees and don't ripen until almost winter."

Thats not a problem - thats the beauty of them. In the fall, a deer eats acorns mostly. In the winter months though, after the acorns are gone, those persimmons will remain and the deer will thank you for them.

My QDM project is going to include honeysuckle for sure. Deer browse on it a lot during the winter months I think. That study I read also suggested dogwoods are a good browse - so I am looking into a dogwood bush if they are out there ....