The ZEC Jeannotte is a controlled exploitation zone (ZEC) in the municipality of Lac-Édouard, in La Tuque Region, in Mauricie, in Quebec. The main recreational and tourist activities on the territory of the ZEC are: berry picking, hunting, fishing, nautical activities (swimming, canoeing, kayaking, boating), mountain biking, snowmobiling, ATV, etc.

This zec was incorporated in 1978, following the abolition of private hunting & fishing clubs on public land. The toponym "ZEC Jeannotte" is derived from the toponym Jeannotte River.

Understand

Zec Jeannotte is a territory of 324 square kilometres (125 sq mi) on the eastern slope of the Saint-Maurice river valley. and on the western slope of the Batiscan river. ZEC Jeannotte is located on the south side of Lake Édouard, about 50 km east of downtown La Tuque, and on the north side of Réserve faunique de Portneuf. The southern and eastern part of the ZEC Jeannotte more or less delimits the administrative region of the Capitale-Nationale and Mauricie. ZEC Jeannotte is connected and on the east side of ZEC de la Bessonne.

Lake Édouard has two outlets which turn out to be each of these two important rivers of the ZEC Jeannotte: the Batiscan river and the Jeannotte river. These rivers are practised according to the favourable segments for the descent of the river by kayak or canoe. The last 9.5 km (5.9 mi) of the course of the Jeannotte river crosses the territory of the Réserve faunique de Portneuf. In addition, the ZEC Jeannotte has dozens of lakes.

An official mountain bike trail and a marked snowmobile trail pass south of the ZEC Jeannotte territory. These trails connect Rivière-à-Pierre (MRC de Portneuf) to La Tuque, via the Portneuf wildlife reserve and ZEC de la Bessonne.

Self-registration is mandatory at all times when the zec reception desk is closed.

• 1 ZEC administration office, bureau administratif: 421, rue Éléments, Trois-Rivières, ☏ +1 418-323-2050 ext 125, +1 418-323-2301, info@reseauzec.com.  

Go

The ZEC Jeannotte territory is accessible by road vehicle, ATV, snowmobile, by train (with VIA Rail Canada) and even by air (via seaplanes).

By car

• From Montreal (352 km (219 mi). Time: 4 hr 12 min. Take highway 40 (north shore) eastbound, to Trois-Rivières; take highway 55 (northbound) to Grand-Mère, which becomes route 155 and cross the Saint-Maurice river bridge; take road 155, bypass the town of La Tuque to La Bostonnais; take rue de l'Église (southbound) passing through Lac-Édouard, until you reach a body of water that you have to cross to reach the ZEC reception station. Option B is to reach the ZEC Jeannotte by road 155 in La Tuque via the ZEC de la Bessonne at the Wayagamac reception.
• From Quebec (city) (168 km (104 mi). Time: 2 hr 59 min. Take highway 40 (westbound) to Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures; take route 367 (northbound) passing the village of Fossambault-sur-le-Lac, Saint-Raymond, Saint-Léonard-de-Portneuf and Rivière-à-Pierre; take the road that passes through the Portneuf Wildlife Reserve and up the valley of the Batiscan river, to the Vermillon reception post.

Do

• Randonnée pédestre. (updated Nov 2021)
• Canoeing and boating. (updated Nov 2021)
• Chasse aux gros gibiers (Big game hunting). Bow, crossbow and firearm hunting according to the authorized periods for moose, white-tailed deer and bears. (updated Nov 2021)
• Chasse aux petits gibiers (Small game hunting). Ruffed grouse and hare hunting (hunting or snaring). (updated Nov 2021)
• Sport fishing. Fishermen are required to respect fishing quotas according to species. (updated Nov 2021)

Sleep

Chalet

• Prêt-à-camper (Ready-to-camp Units). Seven ready-to-camp units for 2 or 4 people along the Matawin River. (updated Nov 2021)

Camping

• Camping dans la zec (1e site) (Camping in the ZEC (1st site)). Includes 31 campsites with drinking water supply and sewer service. (updated Nov 2021)
• Camping dans la zec (2e site) (Camping in the ZEC (2nd site)). Includes 9 campsites with drinking water supply and sewer service. (updated Nov 2021)

Go next

• 1 Réserve faunique de Portneuf A wildlife reserve in the MRC de Portneuf, in the Capitale-Nationale, Quebec. It is administered by SÉPAQ.
• 2 Zec de la Bessonne Controlled exploitation zone (ZEC) covering 524.5 km² (202.5 sq mi), straddling the territories of La Tuque, La Bostonnais and Lac-Édouard. It is 10 km east of downtown La Tuque. Six rivers cross its territory.
• 3 Zec de la Rivière-Blanche Controlled exploitation zone (ZEC) covering 729 km2 in the county of Portneuf. It is bounded to the south by the Portneuf wildlife reserve and to the west by the ZEC Jeannotte; to the east by the ZEC Batiscan-Neilson and to the north by the Laurentides wildlife reserve.
• 4 Réserve faunique des Laurentides Formerly designated "Parc des Laurentides", this park covers 7,934 km² (3,063 sq mi) straddling the Capitale-Nationale and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean regions. This park is part of Quebec's wildlife reserves.
• 5 La Tuque City of Haute-Mauricie, in Quebec, with 11,000 inhabitants. The three Indian reserves which are on its territory, have their own administration. The territory of Haute-Mauricie (covering 28,099 km² (10,849 sq mi)) has long been traversed and inhabited by Indigenous communities. Since the middle of the 19th century, Haute-Mauricie has experienced considerable economic development thanks to forestry and recreational tourism (vacationing, hunting & fishing, snowmobiling, mountain biking , nautical activities, observation of flora and fauna, boating, etc.)
• 6 Lac-Édouard Municipality of Haute-Batiscanie, the village of Lac-Édouard is located on the shores of Lake Édouard. It is famous for its forestry and for its recreational tourism activities (resort, outfitters, nautical activities, snowmobiling, mountain biking).