I had some time to take a closer look at the pieces yesterday. There is a press fit collar with two slots in it that pinches the boot between it and the base of the ****. The **** has two tabs that fit through holes in the top of the boot itself and then through corresponding holes in the collar.

With the boot turned inside out and pulled up over the **** I took a thin screwdriver and pryed the collar off, releasing the boot.

I would strongly suggest to others that you NOT just pull hard! to get the boot off the ****.