I realize your weather differs from Tx but fall planted trees here have far higher survival rates than spring plus in 5 years fall planted trees are much larger and robust than spring planted 6 months earlier. Kind of curious why you are planting so many Maple where there's many others better adapted.
I have been using 3-4 T-posts around smaller trees for years after losing many trees to Bucks. The T-posts alone seem to work, but in several cases I also used PVC (1/2) pipe from post to post. Drilled a small hole in the pipe and tied the pipe across to the t-posts with wire. The added benefit, if you place the T-posts correctly was that it keeps the tree straight / support against the wind.
They are being used to line about 1,100 ft of driveway. Maples are well adapted here. I have several I have planted over the years with no issues. Out of the 60 I planted this spring we only lost the ones this fall to the deer. All of the others made it and added as much as 2 ft of growth. Reason for the October Glory maples is great color, they change later than most other trees, and hold their leave longer. The ones along the drive are the only trees around here at the moment that still have most of their leaves and are still bright red.
I have used 3" gas appliance vent duct, and chicken wire on rebar stakes to keep them from browsing the leaves.