Hunters can now get their 2020 Block Management Area Hunting Access Guide, individual BMA map and rules information. Hunters are strongly encouraged to request their 2020 BMA Hunting Access Guide and individual BMA maps and rules via mail, email, phone or by completing the online Access Guide request form and downloading or printing BMA maps at fwp.mt.gov/BMA. For those who’ve already have

son primary polling and suffered election volunteer shortages, crowded polls, voter confusion and COVID-19 transmission. “Montana, on the other hand, provided clear instructions to voters, realized higher turnout than usual, and enjoyed timely results reporting,” wrote Shantil Siaperas in a letter co-signed by the clerks’ association and the Montana Association of Counties. The associations

Owners of motorboats, sailboats or personal watercraft should make sure they pick up the most current red Montana validations decals, which are free. These red decals are valid until February 2023 and will replace the green decals that expired Feb. 28, 2020. Boaters who have permanently registered their boats, sailboats, or PWC in Montana must obtain two free boat validation decals every three

Northern Plains Independent Staff A hybrid approach will be utilized for most of Brockton's students when school reopens on Aug. 19. The Brockton School board approved a plan on Thursday, Aug. 6, that includes K-8 students attending school two days a week and an alternating Friday while receiving instruction via online the other two days of the week. High school students will attend

The Water Use Act, passed by the Montana Legislature in 1973, mainly dealt with free flowing streams, irrigation and ground water. It did not address livestock water use. So why is this an issue? Irrigation from free flowing streams requires a specific point of diversion and a specific place of use. Priority dates and the amount of water allocated to a user become important when drought conditions

Northern Plains Independent Staff The Wolf Point Yellowjackets dropped their two baseball games at the district tournament held in Billings. Wolf Point lost to the Billings Blue Jays, 19-1, in the first round of the district baseball tournament on Thursday, July 30. Billings scored three runs in the first and seven more in the second to grab a 10-0 advantage. The team added two runs in

Stand-up paddleboarders need to remember they are required to have a life jacket on board. The use of stand-up paddleboards has exploded in Montana over the past few years. And while the vessels are fun and easy to use, many people don’t realize that SUPs have equipment requirements, just like other vessels. In 2008, the U.S. Coast Guard determined that SUPs are considered to be a vessel when