I duck hunt! My dog is NOT a hound, he is a RETREIVER and while the Boykin Spaniel may not be an AKC registered breed, I'd bet money that the BSS or the AKC will fight to decern a difference. Same thing with a Pointer.Just look at the breed names that most deer hunters use... Walker Hounds, Black and Tan Coonhounds, Redbone CoonHounds. Go tell a Lab or Golden Retriever owner their dog is a hound see what they tell you. I deer hunt with dogs too but to try to lump all dogs into one catagory (Hounds) is rediculous. Deer Hounds jobs are simply to find and chase game. Retrievers dont find game, their sole job is to RECOVER game. Pointers do indeed find game but the also RECOVER downed game. Retrievers and pointers most always work within 100 yards of the hunters then come back. The use of a retriever is also considered a more ethical way to hunt birds as more birds are recovered.