I don't have experience with .45. I did own and shoot a Ruger .44 Mag single action many years back. It's a very power handgun. With that particular pistol grip it was near impossible to shoot with a single hand and sometimes with both hands without the hammer coming back and whacking you in the back of your hand. Better get some good ear protection, too. I sometimes carried it in the woods in N.E. MN in case I inadvertantly surprised a black bear. But I never shot anything except paper with it before selling it. So, I can attest to the knockdown factor on big game, as some states will allow.

I think that if I was hiking through areas known for dangerous game, I'd sooner carry a shotgun loaded with slugs and/or 00 buckshot. But between the 2 calibers you mention for such protection I'd choose the caliber that delivers the most force that I could control. .44 is a challenge to control in my opinion with longer time to recover for the next shot. But no doubt some have different views.