Just starting out.

Get to know your dog. A vest slows them down. The vest protects against cuts but not being crushed and the heat can be a problem. A pen is good for seeing your dog's style plus it gives you a chance to handle the hogs in a more controlled environment. In the woods it is harder to see what is really happening. But a bay pen teaches the dog to be lazy. So either build a wooded pen or find someone that will let you use one. At least two acres but bigger is better. The advantage is that you know there are hogs and you know how big they are. It keeps everything in an area so you can see how the dog is doing. I only run cut collars on my bay dogs. I wanted vests on my bay dogs until I saw the difference in their ability to move quickly when a hog charges. But like I said there are risks to dogs and you. You have to make the call because you have to live with the results. Good luck