I apologize...I didn't catch that earlier, my error. Had I noticed that you already booked the trip, I wouldn't have commented about meat quality approaching the rut...I thought you were still deciding between early or late September. Sorry about that.
While I'm here again, let me add a thing or two about lite cots...
Up until about ten years ago, I always had a pad on the ground, but then I bought a Thermarest lite cot, and it quickly became my new normal. It really helps level the playing field when it comes to finding a flat surface to pitch the tent, and I sure do sleep better. I didn't take it on 8-10 day pack-raft floats because it's a bit of a hassle to set-up and take down every day (but doable), and man did I miss it on those trips. Missed it so much on those trips that I purchased a Helinox lite cot a couple years ago because they are much less of a production to set-up/take-down...it's awesome (gave the Thermarest to my son), and the Helinox is going with me next month for a hundred-mile float. When back-packing, I'm back on the ground...last month I did a six-mile back-pack for a couple of nites up into the mountains for some early season Arctic Grayling fishing...and can you guess what I missed having with me?
...last thing about a lite cot...be sure to also have a good pad with a higher R-value, especially if you are in a down bag.