re: General hunting question

I'd hunt before rifle season and after. There is plenty of time for small game hunting both before and after.

However, you still have just as much of a right to squirrel hunt during deer season as the deer hunters have. If you walk up on someone while they are deer hunting they will be pissed, but that is public land for ya.

If you want to hunt during deer season I'd recommend finding a good oak tree or two and sitting under them for a couple of hours. You're likely to kill just as many that way as you would walking around.