I've seen hundreds of deer/squirrel (non)interactionsfrom the tree stand. Only onetime didadoe freak out at a squirrel climbing up a tree,and it was right after the end of our MD two week shotgun season.This doe was wired so tight at every noise, I thought she was going to have a nervous breakdown. She jumped and darted to and fro, tostare at this squirrel every time he made a move;odd, because the squirrel was in plain view of both of us.Finally, she couldn't take it anymore and bolted - a real basket case. I thought she was a prime candidate for jumping the string, so I gave her a pass and just watched the show...
Otherwise, deer pretty much ignore squirrels and their noise.Ihave even used a squirrel bark to relaxdeer after they have spottedmy out-of-place blobin a tree.The barkhas worked well over the years. I have considered taking a squirrel "puppet" up a tree with me and "flagging" its tail, just to add to the ruse.

-fsh