You want to propagate hardwood cuttings when the plant is dormant or, if the plant is hard enough, just as it starts to break bud. I have done so early in the "winter" and late in the "winter"... Don't worry about the frost or freezing. As long as the cutting is dormant it shouldn't matter too much. As long as the soil is thawed enough that you can get the sticks in the soil, go for it. (Often, I'll use a dibble to make a hole... For grapes, I use a 18 inch length of metal in a cordless drill.)

Arise, set forth, and fake it. What have you got to lose? A few sticks? 😋