If you want a 26" barrel go for it. Everything is a compromise in some way or another.
You mention woods hunting. If all I were hunting was woods a 22-24" barrel would be hard to beat but for overall bird hunting that 26" will be fine.
What "woods" hunting do you do for upland birds?
Just know that 28" LC barrel will be lighter than a 26" barrel of standard construction and may actually balance better than the shorter 26" barrel.
