GEARY COUNTY, Kan. _ Being 6-foot-3 and more than 300 pounds was a big benefit when Eric Brown was an offensive lineman in college. Now, at 28, it can be a problem when he goes hunting or fishing.
"I wear a size-15 boot, and it seems most boots I like stop at size 14," said Brown, of Emporia. "Most of the camo you see for sale ends at XXL. There a lot of us out there that need bigger. I can't tell you how many guys I've seen wearing the biggest camo shirt they can find, but their belly is still showing around the bottom. I've always known I'm not the only one going through those kinds of things so I can go hunting and fishing."
No, he is not.
Jason Coke is a serious bowhunter who averages 100 hours in a treestand every year. At 280 pounds, he'd like to know he's as safe 20 or more feet in the air as other hunters.
"Most of the treestands out there aren't rated for that much weight," Coke said. "And then there's the safety harness everybody needs, but it's harder to find those in a bigger size so I can protect myself while I'm hunting. It's frustrating."
Several months ago, Brown decided to see if there was an organization for large hunters and anglers. Brown said he didn't find much.
Hoping to organize others with the same challenges, Brown spread the word the best way he knew how _ on Facebook. It didn't take long for him to see he was on to something with his Livin' Large Outdoors Facebook page.
