Bogtrotter and Will until you have seen a properly trained tracking dog work,report to carcass or bay a beast how can you say that any dog is better than none when you haven't seen the aforementioned properly trained tracking dog,this is not a dig but a question?!?
As for cold scenting for 60 hours rare but doable,sometimes other dogs will have failed looking for a medal etc,in comes the specialist(this is what a cold scenting dog is,as any dog will find with hot scent)perhaps with people having walked all over the track,dogs and animals,then tell me any dog will find your beast
Longest age of track I've worked was 36 hours old,if dogs not trained to that age of track you will not find.You may be lucky though.
Will you say that you like to get the best dog that you can afford,I like to get the best out of any dog I've had whether its needed or not to track an ancient scent,the skill to do so is there if required
Any dog will find with hot scent with blood or guts there but what to do with no blood and it's then an overnight track that's what the difference is
Bogtrotter youre a professional stalker or keeper me thinks and you say you haven't the work for a fully trained deer dog?Now you've me puzzled or is it that you prefer all rounders in the kennel?
Money has never been mentioned.