More details released related to elk poaching

Idaho Department of Fish and Game has released more information related to felony poaching charges filed against two Boundary County men.

Roland H. Hall 56 of Bonners Ferry and Dennis L. Liermann Jr., 32, of Naples are accused of taking two bull elk on Sept. 5, one day before archery season. Both were charged with killing and possessing the elk during closed season.

On the evening of Sept. 5, Idaho Fish and Game received a cell phone call from a concerned individual in the woods in the Trapper Creek drainage north of Priest Lake. The caller and his hunting partner had just watched a man shoot and kill a bull elk with a bow from a tree stand and still had them in sight.

The archery elk season in the area didn't open until September 6.

Conservation Officer Rob Soumas was contacted by phone. In separate vehicles, Soumas and Conservation Officer Rick Bogar headed in the direction of the reported activity.

Meanwhile, another call was received from the original callers reporting that another bull elk had just been shot and killed within their view. This information was relayed to the officers en route.

Locating a pickup truck registered to Hall in the area of the reported events, the officers waited and watched. At 10:45 p.m., Hall and Liermann arrived on foot, entered the pickup and headed down the road.

The officers stopped the truck and contacted the individuals. Hall and Liermann were both wearing blood-stained camouflage clothing.

Initially, Liermann claimed the blood was from a bear he had legally harvested.

However, upon further discussion, both men said they had gone into the woods to bear hunt and scout for elk. They encountered elk, and Liermann and Hall stated they killed one bull each.

Both men admitted they knew the elk season was closed, that they had field dressed the two bulls leaving them up on the hill, and planned to pack them out the next morning. Both still had their unnotched elk tags in their pockets.

Soumas credited the two witnesses with making the charges possible.

"These two legitimate sportsmen really helped make this case by carefully recording what they witnessed and reporting it right away," Soumas said. "That gave officers the opportunity for a timely response. By unlawfully taking the two bulls before season, Hall and Liermann not only cheated their fellow hunters out of the opportunity to legally hunt these elk, they also gave a black eye to the whole hunting community."

Both will have a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the Boundary County Courthouse.

If convicted on felony charges, Hall and Liermann face penalties that could include up to $50,000 in fines and up to five years in prison; hunting privileges revocation up to lifetime; reimbursable damages of $5,000 per elk; and hunting equipment confiscation at the judge's discretion.

To report wildlife violations 24 hours a day, call the Citizen Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999, any Idaho law enforcement agency, or local Fish and Game regional office or conservation officer.