I grew up with half bred pures at 14 I took my first fallow no one else had even thought of them regards hounds here Katchum..
I would have had pures but couldn't source them back then and your half right I wouldn't want to use a pure for deer unless a big one they haven't the build to do the job too light by far in the main ..
But I have to say one of the best I've seen was owned by a good friend only a small bitch but knew how to hock them and hold them it's not only build that counts a good heart helps too