Hi Daniel
I too stalk a lot in Oxfordshire and surrounding counties. With regards to Deer dogs, i can only speak of personal opinion. A spaniel providing it gets the right training is a more than useful deer dog. I feel as though people get too caught up in the "what dog for deer" debate. It really is only personal opinion.
I myself use a teckel, which is a cracking little dog, but would have probably been a nightmare had i not kept on top of her. I know of people who have used labradors, spaniels, Ridgebacks and even labradoodles to which they have had great success with.
So i do