A 48-year-old Umatilla man was charged last week with taking and possessing a Florida black bear, and placing food or garbage to attract bears.

J.C. Calton is scheduled to appear in Marion County court Monday afternoon.

According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers, at around 9:30 p.m. Aug. 25, Calton lured a black bear to his yard in the Ocala National Forest with dog food and corn, and then killed it with a bow and arrow.

FWC officers began an investigation into the alleged crime on Aug. 26 after receiving a report of a dead bear lying on a dirt road in a remote area of the forest. The large bear had been shot with a broadhead arrow, dragged by a vehicle to the remote area and dumped, officers said.

Calton told FWC officers that after he shot the bear it died in his yard, officers said. They said he then used his truck to drag it to the remote area, where it was later discovered by someone who reported it to the FWC.