If the dog is merely a lure how hard is it to steak him out so you can shoot the beasts. I would think a dog of any age or level of training could work for that

I would start with a much younger pup. You'll get alot more years of hunting out of a younger dog.

I understand you wouldn't want to feed a dog very much raw meat unless you got a good tape worm medication.

Maybe you should to take this dog fishing and get your lure out of the tackle box.

This is hilarious. I have never heard of staking a hunting dog out as a lure. I guess you don't think too much of your dog if you will use it as bait. I hope for your dog's sake you are a good shot. If not, won't matter if it is too old to hunt or not. I can just vision the dog on a rope with you hiding in the bushes & a bear approaching. Your dog is thinking "shoot him, shoot him, damn just give me the gun & I'll shoot him."

I remember a 7 year old shorthair, that was trained by a buddyand he turned out to be a field champion and then retired at the age of 10. So its never to late to start training, but it will take alot of work and time.