People certainly play. It's a blast of a game, I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself. As for when... A little trickier. I usually join Rawhide several times a week by myself in the evenings (between 7 and 9pm UTC-6) hoping to attract other players. Other times it seems right crowded. Weekend afternoons are good times to catch some players.
Welcome aboard. Next time I see you I won't hesitate to drop the hammer, though.