It is not uncommon at all for dogs on a hot track to run on the down wind side of the track if there is a breeze, you get into the difference in scent glands and the body scurf, but it does happen a lot whether you have noticed it or not.
Exacttly like Clue said it. Most curs and some hounds run what I call running heads up. This is normally a hot track. Years ago I used to hunt a mostly cypress swamp and that is when I noticed how far off the track the dogs were running but they were well within the cone of scent. During dry times you could really see the dog tracks and they might be 30-70 yards or more on the down wind side of the track. On hogs and bear if you do not have a dog that runs heads up, he will not bay or tree many animals.
