For outdoor use and peace of mind in wolf, bear, and cougar country, I prefer my caliber selections to begin with a "4". I've shot a few animals with the .357 mag, with some pretty stout loads, and the results were less than inspiring. I wouldn't even want to defend myself against an enraged coyote with one, but I have. Got way too exciting for a moment...
The same general size and weight gun is available as a five shot .44 mag in the Model 69. It's on the same "L" frame. It does hold one less round, but in the outdoors (as opposed to a "social" situation), that doesn't mean anything.
I only have two short barreled revolvers, a 2.5" Charter Arms Bulldog Pug in .44 Special and a 3" Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 mag. The former is sometimes carried concealed, the latter is often my "woods bumming" companion.
Don't let anyone tell you that short barreled revolvers are "inaccurate". The Ruger will stay on the bottom of a laid over soup can all day long at 50 yards with full power loads. Yes, recoil is what some might consider "quite noticeable", but I bet it's less noticeable than getting chewed on by a wolf...