Yeah the guys I hunt with seem to have moved more towards beagles. They still use some black and tans though too. They seem to do a good job but they are all a lot of work in the off season.

Basically how it's done is the dogs pick up on a sent and follow it barking. They usually find the deer and jump it up. The deer is often a little ways in front of the dogs and the dogs are following the scent. You try to get somewhere that you think you will get a shot and the deer and hope he comes your way.