J.K. I hunted in Illinois as a kid and young man for a dozen years and my advise would be not to limit yourself to any one breed. During that time I hunted with just about every breed and combination I'd guess and just like people there's good and bad in every breed. Having said that, the best all-a-round dog I hunted with was a Black-n-tan hands down. Second would be a Walker, coldest nose was a Redbone and a good solid all-a-round dog as well. Most endurance was a Plott and the most heart was a Beagle,yea a Beagle. That little guy was unstopable, a little slow, but what a hoot to hunt with. I've hunted with a couple Currs that put up alot of coon if your not in it for the music, and some damn fine Blueticks. The flip side were a Bluetick that could not be broken from running deer, short of lead poisening. A plott that was the lyingest dog I've ever seen, Slick trees. A couple Black-n-tan dogs that were a dumb as a box of rocks and a English that was afraid of the dark. A Redbone that would would fight anything that got near the tree and another one that would leave the hottest coon trail for chance at a skunk.
But, they were all fun, the good the bad and the ugly.