For someone new to the handgun world, that's a very lofty expectation. Connecting with a deer's vitals from 50yrds, shooting one handed, unsupported, with an open sighted revolver, is an impressive feat, even for experienced handgunners, let alone while you'll be tethering dogs. The average shooter can pick up an average rifle and put up a 3" group at 100yrds with minimal or no practice. The average shooter, based on 15yrs of instructing handgun courses and competitive handgunning, CANNOT pick up the average deer hunting revolver and connect with a DEER at 50yrds, let alone a deer's vitals. Not without practice.

With that out of the way, I have to agree, the best investment a new handgunner can make is a Ruger Mark III (updated version of the Mark II). Learning how to shoot handguns accurately takes time, and rounds down range. My first handgun when I was a kid was a Ruger Super Blackhawk .44mag. All I learned from that weapon was how to flinch, and how to miss. My 2nd handgun, a year later, was a Ruger Mark II, which is without a doubt the weapon that made me the handgunner I am today. After a few months with the Mark II, I was back on track with the Super Blackhawk.

Beyond that, I would recommend a 6" barrel as a minimum. It's a hunting handgun, there's no reason it needs to be short. The extra barrel length will give you improved muzzle velocity and energy, as well as be more stable in your hand.

Personally, I'd vote for a .44mag, with the .357mag being my 2nd choice. The .45colt is great, but factory loads are downloaded very conservatively, really limiting this cartridge. The .41mag is a good option as well, but ammo availability and ammo PRICE would make me lean away from it, if it were my "one and only handgun" at least.

As for the platform, it's hard to beat Rugers when it comes to wheelguns. The Ruger Blackhawk/Super Blackhawk is a fantastic single action wheel, but the double action Ruger Redhawk/Super Redhawk gives you more options. If you want something lighter, a Ruger .357mag GP-100 is a good option as well. It's not an ideal hunting weapon since it's on the lighter side, but it IS nice as a "camp gun" or "hiking gun", and would serve very well as a dispatch piece for tracking deer.

If I were going to own ONE handgun, which saw more than just the occasional use, I would make sure it was a double action revolver, in .357mag or .44mag (again, my personal preference is the .44mag).

If I had ONE revolver, it would be a Ruger Super Redhawk .44mag.