Again this is just my opinion, I am not a fan of using 2.00" spacers , so if you go with a tire 28" or larger, you really should go with 2.00" spacers to maintain the same stability you had in stock form.
I think if you go with a 26"-27" tire and you have a winch, you should be good to go on hunting trips. As you said , you can always go with spacers in the future, if you feel they are necessary (I would get the spacers). They can always be removed for those times when you think you need to be 50" width.