Trophy Bull Hunt Costs Two Seeley Lake Residents Hunting Privileges

SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake residents Leland Bartlett and William (Bill) Bartlett pleaded guilty to several counts related to killing a trophy bull elk in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The hunt took place in 2015 while Leland's hunting privileges were suspended from a previous case. The unlawful possession of game felony charge was deferred for both contingent on compliance with all terms and conditions for the next five years. The Bartlett family faces more than $16,000 in fines and the two lost their privileges to hunt, fish and trap, Leland for 10 years and Bill for five.

According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, U.S. Forest Service Federal Officer Tyler Robinson learned of Leland's success during an early season rifle hunt in September 2015. It stated that Robinson spoke with Leland who confirmed he had gotten a nice bull and it was the only elk they saw during the trip.

On a separate occasion, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) Game Warden Chris Hamilton spoke with Bill, who said his wife Terryl had shot a nice bull and it was the only one they saw during their early season rifle hunt.

At the end of the October, Hamilton and Robinson spoke on a hunting trip about the Bartletts' success. They realized they had been told conflicting stories about who killed the bull. Robinson was troubled because he had spoken with Terryl in Seeley Lake during the time the bull was killed.

Robinson also discovered that Leland's hunting privileges were suspended from December 2013-December 2015 after an elk poaching incident in Beaverhead County.

When the three were interviewed separately about their early season elk hunt, the Bartletts' stories did not match. According to the affidavit, the details including the drainage where the bull was killed, the dates in camp, the number of shots fired and the rifle Terryl used were inconsistent. All agreed that Terryl killed the elk.

FWP Special Investigator Mike Fegely obtained a search warrant for Terryl's phone. Fegely found that on Sept. 15, 2015, the day Leland and Terryl said the bull was killed, and Sept. 17, 2015, the day Bill said the bull was killed and the tag was used, Terryl's phone was actively making and receiving calls using Missoula area cell towers.

"Investigator Fegely knows from his training and experience that it would be difficult, if not impossible, for a cell phone to connect to the towers in the Missoula area from the remote location in the Bob Marshall Wilderness where the bull was killed," read the affidavit.

The processed meat from the elk was delivered to FWP Headquarters Nov. 18, 2015. The antlers were turned over the next day. The antlers had six points on each side and green scored 348 on the Boone and Crockett score chart. Since it was a trophy bull it was valued at $8,000.

Leland was charged Sept. 12, 2016 with unlawful possession of a bull elk with the value of the bull exceeding $1,000 and purposefully, knowingly or negligently hunting while his license or privilege to hunt in Montana was forfeited due to hunting violations in Beaverhead County.

Bill was charged Sept. 13, 2016 with unlawful possession of a bull elk with the value of the bull exceeding $1,000 or the alternative either before or during the commission of the offense of unlawful possession of the elk and with the purpose to promote or facilitate the commission of that offense, solicited, aided, abetted, agreed or attempted to aid Leland in the planning or commission of that offense. Bill was also charged with a license offense after attaching Terryl's elk tag to the bull killed by Leland.

Terryl was charged Sept. 14, 2016 with obstructing justice by providing false statements to FWP and/or Forest Service Officers regarding who killed the trophy bull elk during the early season rifle hunt in the Bob Marshall.

While the Bartletts originally plead not guilty to the charges, they each entered into plea agreements.

On Jan. 17, 2017, Leland pled guilty to four misdemeanors: hunting while his privileges were suspended; license permit offense for using another's tag; hunting without a license and obstructing a peace officer. The felony charge of unlawful possession of the bull was deferred for five years pending the successful completion of probation and no other violations of the law. His six month sentences for four counts were suspended.

Leland's conditions of probation included: compliance with all laws including truthful communications with all law enforcement; joint payment of $8,000 restitution to the state of Montana with the co-defendants; complete 250 hours of community service that benefits the community wildlife and/or wildlife habitat with no compensation; privileges to hunt, fish and trap are suspended for 10 years; shall not accompany any other hunter, fisherman or trapper who is actively engaged in or intending to engage in hunting, fishing or trapping activities for five years; turn over the wolf hide/carcass obtained while privileges were revoked to FWP officials as part of the plea agreement; must participate in 15 presentations with Montana hunter's education where he will discuss the facts of the case, the penalties and lessons learned; and $4,370 in fines in addition to the restitution.

Bill pled guilty to three misdemeanors Feb. 28, 2017: accountability for hunting while privileges were suspended; license violation for using another tag; and obstructing a peace officer. The felony charge of unlawful possession of the bull was dismissed pending all the terms and conditions of the sentence are followed. His six month sentences for three counts were suspended.

Bill's terms and conditions included: compliance with all laws including truthful communications with all law enforcement; privileges to hunt, fish and trap are suspended for five years; shall not accompany any other hunter, fisherman or trapper who is actively engaged in or intending to engage in hunting, fishing or trapping activities for five years; completion of 100 hours of community service; joint payment of the $8,000 restitution with the co-defendants and $3,255 in additional fines.

On April 4, Terryl plead guilty to obstructing a peace officer. She paid a fine of $585. Her six months sentence was deferred as a part of the plea.

"Sometimes these cases take a long time. But it was with the help of our [FWP] investigator Mike Fegely, Tyler [Robinson] from the Forest Service, FWP's undercover unit, county attorney Mac Bloom and the Missoula County Sheriff's Office keeping their eye on things," said FWP Game Warden Bill Koppen. "Poaching is really serious. It's always everyone's responsibility to look after the wildlife and the resource. Nobody likes the wildlife taking the hit for something that shouldn't happen."