Eleven charges have been filed against the men, with a combined bond set at $165,000.

Anton Kepeller, 58, Darren Tubb, 43, and Samuel Henley, 18, all from Tasmania, Australia, were contacted and later arrested by Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers on Thursday, November 3, near Atlanta. The following day, the three men appeared in court before Elmore County magistrate Judge David Epis, where formal charges were read.

Kepeller faces six misdemeanor counts, including possession of unlawfully taken elk, and aiding-counseling the killing of elk during closed season. Tubb was charged with three misdemeanors, including killing a bull elk closed season, wasteful destruction of elk, and transfer of a tag. Henley faces two charges, including attempting to kill elk during closed season and use of a tag of another.

Epis set bond for Kepeller, Tubb and Henley at $75,000, $50,000 and $40,000 respectively. He also added special conditions to the case, requiring the three men – should they bond out of jail – to appear for a bond hearing and not leave the state of Idaho.

The investigation continues, and more charges could be filed in the future.

F&G Commission to Meet in Coeur d’Alene This Week

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will meet Wednesday and Thursday, November 9 and 10, at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn, 506 West Appleway in Coeur d'Alene.

A public comment period begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 9.

The commission’s routine agenda starts at 8 a.m. Thursday and includes a budget briefing and ratification of rules, followed by updates on conservation education, legislation and an elk plan revision.

Commissioners also will consider land acquisitions and hear a presentation on Fish and Game’s black bear/grizzly bear online bear identification training program. They will consider adding two anterless controlled hunts in Unit 45 and hear staff recommendations on the motorized hunting rule.

Commissioners also will hear an update on the current wolf season, and appoint a commission representative to Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

A complete agenda is available at the Fish and Game website at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/about/commission/?getPage=184.

Steelhead to be Stocked in the Boise River This Week

More than 250 steelhead will be stocked in the Boise River on Thursday, November 10, the first of four planned stocking efforts during the next few weeks.

The fish will be stocked at five locations in the Boise River between the Glenwood Bridge and Barber Park. Additional stockings are planned for Thursday, November 17, Tuesday, November 22 and Thursday, December 1, weather permitting.

Because of their size – six to 12 pounds – the actual number of steelhead stocked will depend on the capacity of the tanker truck hauling the fish from Oxbow Hatchery on the Snake River.

Besides a fishing license, anglers hoping to tangle with one of the hatchery steelhead need a $12.75 steelhead permit. Though required in other steelhead waters, barbless hooks are not required for Boise River steelhead angling.

All steelhead stocked in the Boise River will lack an adipose fin – the small fin normally found immediately behind the dorsal fin. Boise River anglers catching a rainbow trout longer than 20 inches that lacks an adipose fin should consider the fish a steelhead. Any steelhead caught by an angler not holding a steelhead permit must immediately be returned to the water. Steelhead limits on the Boise River are three fish per day and nine in possession. The statewide fall season limit is 20 fish.

The fish are A-run hatchery steelhead, returning to the Idaho Power Co.-owned and funded Oxbow Hatchery fish trap below Hells Canyon Dam on the Snake River. Many of the returning steelhead will become part of the ongoing steelhead hatchery program at Oxbow Hatchery as part of Idaho Power Company’s mitigation.

For more information regarding the Boise River steelhead release, contact the Fish and Game Nampa office at 465-8465 or check the Fish and Game website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.

News Source: Idaho F&G - Nov. 08, 2011