I'm gonna agree that you should get a .357mag, I seldom recommend them, just because I like .44mags so much, but since you are new to handgunning, or so it sounds, I guess I'll deign to recomment the smaller diameter round, just because the recoil is much milder for someone to learn with.

I have to make my same recommendation for the gun though, a Ruger, either a Blackhawk or Redhawk, or Super BLackhawk and redhawk if you opt for the .44. If ya really want one for cheap, I know a gun shop that has a month old trade in Blackhawk in .41mag for $235, can you believe it?

I felt a titanium Taurus (not airlite) .38spcl the other day, which is a DA, it'd be great for your protection gun, just not a good hunting revolver cuz it's too short barreled, but then again you didn't say you wanted to hunt it, just to have it hunting.

If handgun recoil doesn't bother you, then get a .44mag, it's a lot more potent as a deer weapon, and the .44s&w spcl option is just as good as the .38 option is in the .357, better in my opinion because I feel more comfortable shooting yotes with .44spcl's than with .38spcls, but that just might be me.

PS, in KS, you can't have a side arm while deer hunting (unless you're like me and are good buds with the rangers in your area and check it out with them first, I carried a .45 acp on hunts where I'd had a couple run ins with cougars last year, and asked the guys if they'd grudge me if I carried it, they didn't care, since they know me enough to know I wouldn't ever shoot that dang thing at a deer, let alone out of season).

Screw the 10 ring, keep them in the zero!!!