JACKSON - Three men charged with poaching in Grand Teton National Park appeared before a U.S. magistrate here Tuesday, with one pleading not guilty and two others deferring pleas pending legal counsel.

Jeffrey Wisenbaker of Evanston pleaded not guilty to charges of poaching, illegally possessing a firearm in the park and knowingly giving false statements to an officer.

Shadron Wisenbaker and William Thompson, both 18, deferred entering pleas. Both men are charged with poaching and illegally possessing a firearm in the park, and said they wanted to be appointed an attorney instead of hiring one independently.

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and/or a $5,000 fine.

Jeffrey Wisenbaker, wearing a black winter jacket and jeans, sat with attorney Kenneth Cohen in front of Judge James Lubing. Asked if he understood the charges against him, Wisenbaker said, "Yes, sir."

With the innocent plea, the case will either go to trial or be determined in front of a judge. Lubing said a Jan. 11 date was available, but Cohen said that might be too early, and a February or March date is anticipated.

William Thompson of Evanston appeared before the judge first, wearing a T-shirt and jeans. He was accompanied by his father, with whom Thompson conferred before answering questions.

Lubing asked if he planned to hire an attorney.

"These are serious charges," the judge said.

Thompson said he "possibly might" hire counsel. He asked the judge what the probable finding was on the matter, and Lubing said he couldn't answer that.

"You're facing charges that carry up to a year incarceration," Lubing said. "Quite frankly, (hiring counsel) would probably be my suggestion."

Thompson agreed to hire an attorney, and asked to fill out an application to have one appointed by the court.

A subsequent court appearance is slated for Jan. 11 in Jackson.

Shadron Wisenbaker, Jeffrey Wisenbaker's son, was charged along with Thompson with poaching and illegal possession of a firearm. He, too, asked for a court-appointed attorney and deferred entering a plea until Jan. 11.

His father said after the appearance he could not afford to hire an attorney for his son, who lives on his own.

After the court appearance, Shadron Wisenbaker said he would likely enter a plea of not guilty.

"We were given bad directions," the younger Wisenbaker said.

Charges stem from a Sept. 27 incident in the Arizona Creek drainage of Grand Teton, when other hunters reported gunshots coming from "well inside" the park boundary, according to park reports.

Rangers and a warden from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department responded and found two of the charged men at the site of a freshly killed bull elk. There were four in the hunting party; charges are expected against a fourth man.

At the time, officers learned two additional animals had also been shot and killed in the vicinity.

Rangers confiscated the carcasses and firearms involved.

Park Service officials have said the men called rangers the previous night to ask about the park's boundary with the Bridger-Teton National Forest, where hunting is legal. Rangers spent a good amount of time with the men explaining the boundary, according to the agency.

But Jeffrey Wisenbaker said after the court appearance that information relating to the boundary was murky, and the men thought they were outside the park boundary.

"We tried everything we could to be legal," he said. "We based it on the information we were given."

Later, he added, "I think they've got it out for somebody. They're trying to make a point."

Environmental reporter Whitney Royster can be reached at (307) 734-0260 or at royster@trib.com.