The ZEC Wessonneau is a controlled exploitation zone (ZEC) on public land in the territory of La Tuque Region, in Mauricie, in Quebec. ZEC Wessonneau was incorporated in 1978.

This ZEC borders the ZEC du Gros-Brochet to the south, the Domaine Desmarais outfitter to the west, the Aventure Nature Okane outfitter to the north, the J.-E outfitter. Goyette to the north and Club B7B to the north. While the territory of the Waban-Aki outfitter is in the centre of the ZEC. This territory lies to the west of the Saint-Maurice river. The zec covers the Baril, Turcotte, Geoffrion and Polette cantons. The southern part of the territory of the ZEC Wessonneau has a donut shape, comprising in its centre a territory excluded from its administration. The east-west length of the ZEC is 62.3 km (38.7 mi) and the north-south length of 45.5 km (28.3 mi). The northeastern limit of the ZEC is 20.5 km (12.7 mi) from the Saint-Maurice river.

Understand

ZEC Wessonneau is a hunting and fishing area of 805.3 km² (310.9 sq mi) on the western slope of the valley of the river Saint-Maurice. This ZEC is crossed by the West Flemish river which turns out to be a tributary of the Flamand river.

This ZEC has many lakes exploited for fishing.

The users of the territories can do several recreotourism type activities: berry picking, canoeing, kayaking, camping, snowshoeing, hunting & fishing, mountain biking, snowmobiling, and water activities (swimming). ATV enthusiasts have access hundreds of kilometres by several forest roads.

• ZEC Wessonneau administration office, Administrative office: 2420, route 155 Sud, La Tuque, ☏ +1 819-523-7365, zecwess@hotmail.com. ZEC covering the townships of Baril, Turcotte, Geoffrion and Polette. The reception station of the ZEC Wessonneau is west of the Saint-Maurice river, near the rivière aux Rats. (updated Nov 2021)

Go

The ZEC Wessonneau territory is accessible by road vehicle, ATV, snowmobile and even by air (via seaplanes). The main reception station of the ZEC is on the west bank of the Saint-Maurice river. You must pay the rights of way to cross the bridge over the Saint-Maurice River.

By car

• From Montreal (261 km (162 mi). Time: 2 hr 47 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 route 155, cross the villages of Grandes-Piles and Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac, to the Rivière-aux-Rats bridge which spans the Saint-Maurice river, in the Rivière-aux-Rats sector. Take the toll bridge.
• From Quebec (city) (209 km (130 mi). Time: 2 hr 26 min. Take highway 40 (direction West), to Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade; take route 159 (northbound) passing through the village of Saint-Stanislas, Saint-Séverin, Saint-Tite and Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac; take route 155 (northbound) to the bridge spanning the Saint-Maurice river, in the hamlet of Rivière-aux-Rats; the main reception station of the zec is located on the west bank of the Saint-Maurice river. Take the toll bridge.

Do

• Randonnée pédestre (Hiking). (updated Nov 2021)
• Canotage et promenade en bateau (Canoeing and boating). Canoe-camping is popular in the ZEC area. (updated Nov 2021)
• Chasse aux gros gibiers (Big game hunting). Hunters are asked to follow the moose, white-tailed deer and bear hunting quotas, taking into account the authorized periods. (updated Nov 2021)
• Chasse aux petits gibiers (Small game hunting). Hunters are asked to follow the regulations for bow, crossbow and firearm hunting for small game (grouse and grouse) and hare (hunting or snaring). (updated Nov 2021)
• Pêche récréative (Sport fishing). The ZEC offers many bodies of water exploited for sport fishing activities. Fishermen are required to respect daily fishing quotas according to species and to take into account lakes closed for fishing. They must also report the total number of catches reported and eaten, the exact name of the lake of each catch reported and eaten. Species of fish subject to quotas: brook trout, lake trout, perch, moulac and pike. Several dozen lakes in the zec have a launching ramp for pleasure craft. (updated Nov 2021)

Winter time

• Snowshoe hike. (updated Nov 2021)
• Cross-country skiing. (updated Nov 2021)

Buy

• 1 Poste d'accueil de la Rivière-aux-Rats (Rivière-aux-Rats reception center), 1200 Boulevard Ducharme, ☏ +1-819-523-3870. The Rivière-aux-Rats reception centre offers earthworms (St-Gabriel baits) for sale. (updated Oct 2021)

Sleep

Camping

ZEC Wessonneau offers two campsites for users.

• Camping du Lac du Sable (Lac du Sable campsite). Includes 13 campsites. Access to water (not drinkable), emptying station, picnic table and dry toilet. Accessible by car. (updated Nov 2021)
• Camping de la Rivière-aux-Rats (Rivière-aux-Rats campsite). Includes six campsites. Access to water (not drinkable), picnic table and dry toilet. Accessible by car. (updated Nov 2021)

Go next

• 1 Parc national de la Mauricie. National park offering several recreational and tourism activities: sport fishing, hiking (160 km of trails), cycling, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, interpretation trails, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, camping (in summer and in winter), canoe-camping, long hike in complete autonomy. A promenade road crosses the park right through. This park is bounded by the Matawin River to the north and the St-Maurice River to the east. It has two entrances: Saint-Mathieu and Saint-Jean-des-Piles. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 ZEC du Gros-Brochet. Controlled exploitation zone (ZEC) created in 1978. A first reception station is located at the southern end of the territory, that is to say just south of Lac des Pins-Rouges, therefore accessible via road 131 via Saint-Michel- Saints. The second reception station is on the east side of the Rivière-aux-rats bridge which spans the Saint-Maurice river. This zec extends into the cantons of Bisaillon, Dupuis, Laporte and Sincennes. (updated Nov 2021)
• 3 Zec Frémont. Controlled exploitation zone (ZEC) southwest of the city of La Tuque. More than 250 lakes have been counted in the territory of this ZEC, the main one being Lake Sincennes. (updated Nov 2021)
• 4 Réserve faunique du Saint-Maurice, ☏ +1 819-646-5687, portneuf@sepaq.com. Park administered by Sépaq on the west bank of the Saint-Maurice river and north of the Matawin river. This park offers chalet rental, small game hunting, fishing, camping and ready-to-camp services. The main entrance is the Mékinac bridge which spans the Saint-Maurice river. (updated Nov 2021)
• 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.) (updated Oct 2021)