Work on making local connections too, I've helped plenty pack out, but you got to make that connection, remember there are lots of younger guys needing help on house projects or the farm/ranch and usually more than willing to help out for the guys that show/earn respect or teach them something.
I have one that has plastic ball like mixer and roundish bottom vs square edge bottom and wire ball. Way easier to clean. I like it for work cuz all it needs is pretty much rinsed.
I've been using a tarp for early hunts and added a Jimmy Tarps bivy sack to keep the bugs down. Bivy doesn't weigh much and works great. If you get one of his bivys it helps to have tapered sleeping pad as mine is rectangle and tight fit.
I don't know what your wooded area is, but one thing I don't like is mine rolling under pine trees in my pasture, they tend to get lots of needles and pine twigs in their wool. I second the small funnel area catch pen too!
Not really backcountry but was chukar hunting with a buddy years ago in a desert canyon and could all of a sudden smell cigarettes. We stopped and looked around and down in the creek bottom were a couple grungy guys with big packs on. We just kept moving and about 3/4 mile later we came across...
Agree with everyone else, Sitka site is really painful. Have used BlackOvis to look at Sitka gear but their site can be painful too when ordering as you have to pick color/pattern first when they don't have the right size. Would rather have size be the first option as I'm not so worried about...
Chiropractor said my lower back pain was more muscle and fascia related. Foam rolling or using lacrosse ball on pressure points against wall or floor have helped immensely.