I'd also look at floorless, and would make him go backpacking this summer if at all possible. I wouldn't want my first time backpacking to have been in late October I know that. It's nice to get stuff figured when your tag isn't depending on it.Any decent quality long (6'6") insulation will do. I can squeeze onto a 72" long pad at 6'2" ish but I'd go longer for him.
Also, even a quality, correctly sized pack with a backpack camp + meat in it will punish the first timer. No way around it, but at least getting a sense of what a full pack feels like will help him. The thing about deer is you can suffer your way out with 100-120 lbs and be done. With elk you gotta wake up the next morning and do it all again
