Pen or Woods?

How about pen and woods?

I have to agree with most of you here on some level after doing it both ways over the years.

I think the pen is the best/ easiest way to educate a puppy when he is starting out. Putting him on a hog in a pen that will not hurt him but teaching him respect at the same time is a valuable lesson for an "uneducated pup" and one that may save him from serious injury or worse when he finally gets hauled to the woods.
Its a little tricky to be selective in the woods so I choose to lead my pups until I can size up the hog that the big dogs find and bay unless they have already had that "pen education" I mentioned above.
I have seen this situation end badly for "uneducated pups" on a few occasions and just don't recommend it when hunting with older, experienced hog dogs.
What ever age I choose to start my pup, I educate him in a pen if I can or lead him to the bay in the woods so I can size the hog up first.
After the lesson is learned and my pups are showing due respect for the hogs it is rare that they see a hog in the pen after that. I just don't see it necessary unless I am working on a correction or installing a new button on a pup, but I can usually get that done in the woods also.