Vests on strike dogs???

I have a plott that is super rough; I could probably use him as a catch dog. No matter what size, he is going to try to catch. When I know I am getting ready to put on a big hog I vest him. If it is in the summer, I will choose not to run him before I will run him without a vest. I have other dogs that I can use, he don't have to be on every hog.

Yes, the vest may slow him down a bit but, I don't think the reason for a hog to get away from him has ever been his vest. The hog would have out run him with or without the vest.

The vest has saved him before and it has saved me some vet bills. My choice is to evaluate the situation and use the vest if I think it is going to protect my dog so he lives to hunt another day.