I agree on the 2-gun advice. A 22LR would be perfect for plinking and small game but not recommended for self defense. A 22LR would also be economical to shoot (lots of targets, plinking and hunting for little cost). A 9mm is a much better self defense round but would be overkill on your small game (I'm assuming you mean squirrels & rabbits, etc.). 9mm ammo is also a lot more expensive.

I noticed you like S&W pistols so getting both would also keep your familiarity with the same/similar shooting platform, i.e. safety location, decocking, trigger pull, etc. Enjoy whatever you decide to purchase and let us know how it works out.