Thus far I have killed three deer with my 6 inch S&W m-29 useing the "issued" iron sights.
Last year I tried a cheapy 2X scope and really got a kick out of it till opening morning when the dumb thing failed.
I currently have a Bec Inc brand reddot on my .4 inch .357 that I really have a ball playing with. I can consistently hit steel "coyotes" at 100 yards with it. Bang, wait.......clink, bang, wait........clink. I get the giggles after that and start missing.
I have really debated about trying a "dot" on my .44, but I am concerned about the recoil breaking it.
I would suggest getting good with the iron sights, then if you still want to, try a scope, I would also suggest that if you do scope it, stay with a low powered scope. Its hard enough to use a scope at arms length without the handicap of a supersmall feild of view.
I do know that whatever I use for deer hunting next year it will have a scope, my eyes just arent what they used to be
Oh and the .44 has the power to be effective 125 or so yards, its usually the shooters who arent effective that far