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The two men skinned one of the bears and cut off its paws and head for a trophy, EnCon police said.
EnCon police received an anonymous tip Saturday that an archery hunter had illegally shot and killed two black bears on private property in Wilton.
The officers found Antonio Lio, 28, of Wilton carrying a bear skin, head and paws in a backpack, EnCon police said. Daniel Moran,33, of Norwalk, was with him, EnCon police said.
Lio told officers that he shot a bear as it walked under his tree stand before shooting and killing a second bear that approached him as he checked the first bear, EnCon police said.
He then texted Moran for help in retrieving the bears, EnCon police said.
According to police, the two then skinned the first bear, cutting off its paws and head for a trophy mount.
Both individuals were arrested. Lio was charged with two counts of illegal taking of black bear and fourth-degree negligent hunting. He was released on $5,000 nonsurety bond.
Moran was charged with conspiracy to commit the illegal taking of black bear. He was released on $3,000 nonsurety bond.
Both men were scheduled to appear in Norwalk Superior Court on Sept. 28.
The location was not released by EnCon police. In the past 52 weeks, 17 bear sightings have been reported. In June, a bear was spotted on the Norwalk Valley River Trail.
EnCon police are part of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
For more information on bears in Connecticut and to report a sighting, click here.
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