I have 2 Irish Setters and I enjoy them alot. They do require a lot of attention however. They make great bird dogs and hunt in close for me. They tend to travel out there from time to time but come back in rather quickly.

For as far as a guard dog? My female will run up and try to jump in the burgulars lap while my male will surely put the run to them. He has done this twice in the last two years. Once when a group of young men were out trying to steal gas. Another time last winter when someone came up my drive to use my wireless internet connection around 1am which really pissed me off. I never taught him anything about guarding as it came naturally for him as well.

Tracking wounded deer? I never tried him or her for it. I have little doubt that they could do the job. I just have no need for them to do this and then have to brake them from chasing deer later on.. I have them hunt for birds and that is it. I did give it some thought on antler hunting with my male but decided against that as well. As surely I only want them to hunt for birds and only birds..