Planting trees in wild areas

I’ve got a fairly wild, zone 5 area that is filled with invasives. I’m hoping to clear out parts of it and replace with some plants that will provide food and shelter for wildlife – elderberry, currants, willow. They will start as small seedlings or even cuttings.

But how can I protect the trees until they grow to become a bit more self sufficient? There are lots of deer, rabbits, voles in the area and there’s no way I am gonna be able to cage up most of this.

Any tips for protecting them for free? My current two ideas are: 1) surrounding them with brush piles to prevent deer browse. If anything I suspect this will increase browsing from voles and rabbits though.

2) just plant so many they won’t be able to find them all right away. Shock and awe!

Don’t love these ideas as even cuttings aren’t exactly cheap (until I get some big mother plants producing a hundred cuttings a year.)

Thanks in advance