RE: Tracking dogs. whats the best?
Any dog will find a freshly hit easy to find deer. When the track is 8 hours old or more, the track is faint, and the going tuff...there are dogs that fit your bill.
Look to the versatile dogs (continental breeds) like shorthairs, wirehairs, vizlas, etc. and look to dogs that have been test in blood tracking.
My female drahts mother has passed a special test for both a 20 hour old blood track and a 40 hour old blood track. At that point, it is about the dog's ability to concentrate more so than scenting ability. A dog that cannot remain calm and concentrated on track will not pass the test.
Dachsunds are good as well, but you want to look for a Dackel these are the dachsunds that are still tested in blood tracking and are registered as Dackel no Dachsund/