It really depends upon what you hunt. A blue healer is for fur (I think) as I have never heard mention of them bird hunting. I does sound like you want a dog that will protect you so I'd say a black lab for upland/waterfowl. If you want something that can hunt fur, ask someone else as I don't know about these dogs. But I wouldn't recommend an english setter. Overall they are friendly, people oriented. They'll bark but it's because they want attention. My setter will bark a people passing by but tail will be going 90 miles an hour.