I'm 80 now, and been runnin' dogs since my teenage years in the Appalachians...........'coons and such....my start out dog was a mixed breed with heavy Walker background....run and tree anything, from squirrels on up. I still have seven Walkers, but they're trained and used on deer, but will push a bear at a moments notice if the opportunity presents....unfortunately it's not legal here in Florida...for that matter even finding a spot to run dogs is a major problem anymore................just too, too many damn people. Anyway, my suggestion to you is to link up with a knowledgable hound hunter......get a real feel for the practice, you'll find a lot of opinions as to the "best" type of dog and gear. I use a Garmin Alpha and would not run a dog without it, especially here with so may people and roadways. Walkers are a great breed, notably fast as hell and once turned on are real stick to it types..........Bluetics/Redbones/English/Black and tans, in my experience have far better tracking ability, I have ran both types and at the same time.....in my experience the Walkers ALWAYS took the lead in the chase...........However, those same burn 'em up's were never the ones to work out a long, tedious and cold track.
I wish you good hunting, good luck and I hope you experience the thrills I have in my lifetime dog running................truly tho, it much appears to be a dieing method, and for no truly good reason at that!
It occurs to me that I really ought to add that the kill is truly anticlimatic in dog hunting..........the real reward is the chase it's self..........that and the knowledge that YOU trained and raised those dogs................I envy you tho, in where you are and in what game you have available to you!