There's a fella up near the prison in La that has pen dogs...will bay the hair off a hog from what I'm told...none of them have any hunt, again, from what I'm told from someone I trust.
Personally, I think it's two differing vocations. If you're selection and sort doesn't include traits required for a woods dog...you'll lose them.
Well... If your talking about starting a dog in one place or the other for an extended period ... Years... And then trying to cross over... I think your probably right.
As far as blood goes... I know for fact you can take a good blooded pup from hunting stock...and IF he makes a dog good enough to win in the pen...keep him there, then sire litters out of him from good blooded hunting gyps and Those pups stand a better than average chance at making woods dogs or competition dogs either way. It CAN be done THAT way. Seen it plenty.