TOLLAND — A Tolland man faces a variety of charges after state Environmental Conservation police said they found him hunting while allegedly under the influence of alcohol Saturday afternoon in the Nye Holman State Forest, which is in Ellington and Tolland.
Police said they found Darin C. Hanna, 48, while checking a section of the forest near the Charter March Sanctuary off Route 74. Police were checking the area because they’d previously found a tree stand over an area that had been baited with apples and corn. Under state law, baiting for deer is illegal in most cases and considered poaching, police said.
Hanna was archery hunting and had with him a crossbow and a loaded handgun. It is against the law to possess a handgun while archery hunting, police said. Police said Hanna also did not have a permit for the handgun.
State police assisted conservation officers and took Hanna to the Tolland barracks, where he was charged with hunting deer over bait, possession of a firearm while archery hunting for deer, hunting under the influence, possession of a firearm while under the influence, and carrying a handgun without a permit.
He was released on $10,000 bail and is to appear Nov. 14 in Superior Court in Rockville.