The ZEC Batiscan-Neilson is a controlled harvesting zone (ZEC), located in the municipal territories of Saint-Raymond, Rivière-à-Pierre and Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, in the regional county municipality (RCM) of Portneuf, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec.

Zec Batiscan-Neilson is a territory of 878 kilometres (545.56 mi) comprising 356 lakes. Being located 65 km (40 mi) from Quebec City, it is easily accessible to visitors. ZEC users have access to shops and public services in the village of Saint-Raymond and Rivière-à-Pierre. This zec was created in 1978, following the abolition of private hunting & fishing clubs on public lands.

The ZEC has three reception stations:

• Perthuis: located at km 64 of route 367, in Rivière-à-Pierre - Tel.: +1 418-323-2075. In 2020, the Perthuis reception station was demolished and rebuilt in 2021;
• Mauvaise: located at km 4 of Chemin de la Rivière Mauvaise, Saint-Raymond. Tel.: +1 418-340-1722;
• Petit Saguenay: located at 3001, rang Saguenay, Saint-Raymond. Tel.: +1 418-337-9510.

On its website (ZEC network), the ZEC displays in particular the status of fishing lakes, the pricing grid for hunting or fishing activities (including the calendar, the opening or closing of fishing lakes), the pricing for the rental of chalets (three chalets at Lac Petit Batiscan and one at Lac Philo in the Saguenay sector), the regulations in force, the map of the territory, the terms of reservation and various instructions or news. Nature lovers can find information there to plan their recreational tourism activities. The establishment of a virtual reception station (PAV) and the computerization of the various reception stations of the zec have enabled online payment by users. In addition, the Facebook page includes information on the development of waterways and development activities, particularly for brook trout on the territory of the ZEC.

• 1 Bureau d'administration de la zec (ZEC administration office), Administrative office: 96 St-Jacques, Saint-Raymond (reception located on the edge of the Bras du Nord of the Sainte-Anne River, on the north side of the village of Saint-Raymond), ☏ +1 418-337-4545, zecbatiscanneilson@cite.net. (updated Jan 2022)

Understand

Recreational tourism activities

The main recreational and tourist activities on the territory of the ZEC are: picking berries (e.g., mushrooms, blueberries, raspberries), hunting (white-tailed deer, pheasant, grouse, hare, moose, black bear, grouse), fishing (at fly, wading), nautical activities (swimming, canoeing, kayaking, boating), mountain biking, snowmobiling, camping, forest expeditions, observation of flora and fauna, etc. The zec offers rustic or seasonal campsites. The ZEC also offers chalets for rent in two areas:

• Petit Batiscan: Main camp, Pilots camp and Camp L'Attente;
• Philo: camp Philo.

A magnificent lookout located at km 9 of the Saguenay sector (William Lake Road) presents a forest panorama over the valley of the "Cap des Sept Côtes" and the surrounding mountains.

Fishing includes brook trout. Hunting for ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, hares, ring-necked pheasants and Batavelle partridges. Users surrender their access rights when leaving the territory.

In the ZEC, fishermen must have a provincial fishing licence, have paid their right to fish and pass at the reception station, as well as declare and weigh the catches at the exit of the ZEC. Fishing is free for children aged 17 and under accompanied by an adult. In the territory of ZEC Batiscan-Neilson, ice fishing for the brook trout species is practised on two lakes.

The fish species caught are arctic char and brook trout.

Geography

The territory of this ZEC forms a triangle which is butchered in part by the valley of the Neilson River and a small area in the middle of the triangle. This reserved territory straddles the municipal territories of Saint-Raymond, Rivière-à-Pierre and Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier. The northern tip of the ZEC covers the southeast end of Batiscan Lake. This territory is part of the Sainte-Anne River watershed. The territory is bounded to the southeast by the Tantaré Ecological Reserve, to the northwest by the zec de la Rivière-Blanche, to the west by the Portneuf Wildlife Reserve.

ZEC Batiscan-Neilson has six sectors: Talayarde, La Mauvaise, Grandbois, Sainte-Anne, Perthuis and Petit Saguenay.

The main rivers crossing the ZEC are:

• Neilson River,
• Talayarde river,
• La Roche Plate river,
• Bad River.

The main lakes in the ZEC are:

• Lake Batiscan,
• Little Batiscan Lake,
• Lake Sixty Arpents.

Go

The territory of ZEC Batiscan-Neilson is accessible by road, snowmobile or mountain bike.

By car

• From Montreal (249 km (155 mi). Time: 3 hr 04 min. Take Autoroute 40 (north shore) eastbound to Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade; take Route 354 (northbound), to Saint-Léonard-de-Portneuf; take route 367 (northbound), to the reception of the ZEC. The reception is located on Camp Keno road which runs along the Black River. It is on the border of Rivière-à-Pierre and Saint-Léonard-de-Portneuf.
• From Quebec City (88 km (55 mi). Time: 1 hr 11 min. Take Highway 40 (Westbound), to Neuville; take Route 365 (northbound) passing the village of Pont-Rouge, Saint-Raymond and Saint-Léonard-de-Portneuf; take route 367 (westbound) to the reception of the ZEC.

Do

• Randonnée pédestre (Hiking). Unmarked trails. (updated Jan 2022)
• Canotage et promenade en bateau (Canoeing and boating). Many enthusiasts practise whitewater kayaking independently on the Neilson River; it is not an activity supervised by the ZEC. Thus, kayaking enthusiasts must agree on the passage with the riparian owners for launching and parking, if necessary. (updated Jan 2022)
• Chasse aux gros gibiers (Big game hunting). Bow, crossbow and firearm hunting according to authorized periods and designated areas for moose, white-tailed deer and bear. (updated Jan 2022)
• Chasse aux petits gibiers (Small game hunting). Hunt for pheasant, ruffed grouse, hare and grouse. (updated Jan 2022)
• Pêche récréative (Sport fishing). Fishermen are required to respect quotas and fishing areas. The ZEC offers a rowboat rental service on several bodies of water and fishing accessories. The fish species caught are: arctic char and brook trout. The zec has a stocking plan sanctioned by the minister responsible for wildlife. (updated Jan 2022)
• Quad. The federated transquebec trail no. 60 passes directly into the territory of the ZEC, giving access to Mauricie (updated Jan 2022)

Winter time

• Snowmobile. The federated transquebec trail no. 23 passes directly into the territory of the ZEC, giving access to the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. (updated Jan 2022)
• Snowshoe hike. The forest environment and the relief in the ZEC allow the practice of snowshoeing in the wilderness. (updated Jan 2022)

Sleep

Camping

• Camping rustique ou saisonnier (Rustic or seasonal camping). Monthly and seasonal campsites are allocated annually by lottery. (updated Jan 2022)

Chalet, gîte, inn

• Chalets au Petit lac Batiscan (Cottages at Petit Lac Batiscan). The three cabins are: Camp Principal, Camp des Pilotes and Camp L'Attente. The ZEC also offers the concept of furnished tents (ready-to-camp). (updated Jan 2022)
• Chalet au lac Philo (Chalet at Lac Philo). Chalet rented by the ZEC. (updated Jan 2022)

Go next

• 1 Saint-Raymond Recreational tourism activities include hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, and snowshoeing.
• 2 Rivière-à-Pierre Granite is the soul of the place: the stonemasons have shaped the quarries of granite stones from the dozen granite quarries exploited throughout history. The most famous work of granite is the monolithic granite cross shaped by craftsmen from Rivière-à-Pierre and erected in Gaspé to commemorate in 1934 the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Jacques Cartier in America.
• 3 Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier It offers a range of recreational and tourist activities (including hiking, biking, snowshoeing or on a fat bike).
• 4 Portneuf Wildlife Reserve A wildlife reserve in the MRC de Portneuf. It is administered by SÉPAQ.
• 5 ZEC de la Rivière-Blanche Controlled exploitation zone (ZEC) covering 729 kilometres (452.98 mi) in the county of Portneuf.
• 6 Réserve faunique des Laurentides Wildlife reserve that covers an area of ​​7,934 km² (3,063 sq mi).