bhensley,, I think it is ok to use a dog for tracking in Missouri, there may be something about having it on a leash, and Id advise that if your hunting on land where anyone else hunts. I use my Weimaraner for tracking but always keep a hunter orange collar on her, even on my own private property, they are large dogs and are similarly colored to deer, you dont want anyone to mistake your dog for a deer, or just simply shoot it for being there. Weims have a very good nose, and are very smart dogs, but some have a little problem with being hard headed and hyper. I got lucky with mine and she is very level headed and laid back, she found a couple deer last year, one whick would have been a very hard track job, and she found it in about 15 minutes. I dont think you can start your too early and I started taking mine on recoveries when she was a year old, because I had to wait for season to open. I havent gotten mine polished up good on trailing as well as Id like to yet, but if she gets downwind of it she will lead me right to it. I wish I had a litter right now, I had her bred in her last heat, and she should have had pups sept 11, but she didnt stick. She is in heat again right now, but I dont want to have winter puppies, so Ill wait till spring to breed her again. Good luck with it.