The ZEC du Gros-Brochet is a controlled exploitation zone (ZEC) on public territory straddling the territories of La Tuque and the regional county municipality (MRC) of Mékinac, in Mauricie, in Quebec, Canada.

This ZEC borders Zec du Chapeau-de-Paille to the south-east, ZEC Wessonneau to the east and ZEC Frémont to the north. It also borders the Némiskau outfitter to the north, the Aventure Nature Okane outfitter to the east and the Domaine Desmarais outfitter to the east. While the western part of the zec forms the limit of the administrative regions of Lanaudière and Mauricie. This ZEC was incorporated in 1978.

The Gros-Brochet ZEC has two reception stations:

• des Pins Rouges, accessible from Saint-Michel-des-Saints. Route: take Chemin Desaulnais on the left; then the Manawan road, on the right. After 16 km on the Manawan road, take the dam road on the right; from there, follow the signs to reach the Pins Rouge reception post;
• via the ZEC Wessonneau, accessible by Rivière-aux-Rats, accessible by road 155 which runs along the east bank of the Saint-Maurice river; cross the Gaston-Fortin bridge, at the hamlet of Rivière-aux-Rats, spanning the Saint-Maurice river; go to the ZEC Wessonneau reception station, then cross the latter ZEC until you reach the entrance to the Gros-Brochet zec. Visitors arriving by motor vehicle and heading towards the Gros-Brochet zec must register at the ZEC Wessonneau reception desk.

• Bureau d'administration de la zec (ZEC administration office), Administrative office: 3137, rue Laberge, Québec, G1X 4B5, ☏ +1 418-527-0235, info@reseauzec.com. (updated Nov 2021)

Understand

The Gros-Brochet ZEC is a 1,439 square kilometres (556 sq mi) hunting and fishing area located on the western slope of the Saint-Maurice river and on the northern slope of the Matawin river. This ZEC is crossed by the rivers Vermillon, Picard and de la Savanne.

This ZEC has 568 lakes, 105 of which are used for fishing; as well as four rivers, two of which are used for fishing.

The users of the territories can do several recreotourism type activities: berry picking, canoeing, camping, snowshoeing, hunting & fishing, mountain biking, and snowmobiling. ATV enthusiasts have access to hundreds of kilometers by several forest paths. The main attractions of the ZEC are the fall of the Gilaredo dam and the Sylvestre falls. In addition, the Lac des Pins Rouges offers sandy beaches. The Pins Rouges circuit offers great sensations in canoe camping.

Each summer, volunteers stock fish in various lakes. In the summer of 2021, twelve lakes were stocked with more than 7,200 8- to 12-inch brook trout.

Go

The ZEC du Gros-Brochet territory is accessible by road vehicle, ATV, snowmobile and even by air (via seaplanes). Route to get to the Pins Rouges reception post, via Saint-Michel-des-Saints:

By car

• From Montreal (231 km (144 mi). Time: 3 hr 7 min. Take highway 40 (north shore) eastbound, until the Joliette exit; take road 131 (northbound), pass near the town of Joliette, cross the villages of Saint-Félix-de-Valois, Saint-Jean-de-Matha, from Saint-Michel-des-Saints, and bypass Lake Taureau on the west side, to the Pins Rouge reception post.
• From Quebec (city) (2,343 km (1,456 mi). Time: 4 hr 17 min. Take highway 40 (direction West) to Yamachiche; take route 138 and cross the village of Louiseville; take road 348 (northbound) passing through the village of Saint-Ursule, Saint-Édouard-de-Maskinongé, Saint-Didace, Saint-Damien, and Saint-Émélie-de-l'Énergie; then take route 131 (northbound), cross the village of Saint-Michel-des-Saints, and bypass Taureau Lake on the west side, to the Pins Rouge reception post.

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)
• Circuit Pins Rouges en canot camping (Red Pins circuit by canoe camping). A two- or three-day canoe camping tour for beginners to intermediate canoeists. This circuit begins at Lac des Pins Rouges and takes the canoeists through Lac des Fourches to then take the Vermillon River towards Lac Travers and Lac Poterie Inférieur. From there, a short portage brings the boaters to Lac Devenyns, allowing them to reach the starting point of this circuit. The route presents beautiful beaches and splendid landscapes. (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). In 2021, the ZEC offered 107 bodies of water used 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: walleye, northern pike, brook trout, yellow perch, lake trout (gray trout) and brook char. 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)

Sleep

Camping

ZEC du Gros-Brochet offers three furnished campsites and several other rustic camping areas.

• Camping du lac Galifet (Lac Galifet campsite). Includes seven furnished campsites. (updated Nov 2021)
• Camping du lac St-Arnaud (Lac St-Arnaud Campground). Includes five furnished campsites. (updated Nov 2021)
• Camping du Lac de la Baie (Lac de la Baie campsite). Seasonal packages or daily rates (updated Nov 2021)
• Camping rustique Barrage du lac de la Baie (Rustic campsite Barrage du lac de la Baie). Seasonal packages or daily rates (updated Nov 2021)
• Camping rustique Barrage Louis-Gill (Rustic campsite Barrage Louis-Gill). Seasonal packages or daily rates (updated Nov 2021)
• Camping rustique Le Dragon (Rustic campsite Le Dragon). Seasonal packages or daily rates (updated Nov 2021)
• Camping rustique Le Dépôt Gagnon (Rustic campsite Le Dépôt Gagnon). Seasonal packages or daily rates (updated Nov 2021)
• Camping rustique Le Richard (Rustic campsite Le Richard). Seasonal packages or daily rates (updated Nov 2021)

Go next

• 1 La Mauricie National Park. 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 (both 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 Wessonneau. Controlled exploitation zone (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)
• 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 Réserve faunique Mastigouche (Mastigouche Wildlife Reserve), ☏ +1 819-265-2075. Park administered by Sépaq straddling the Mauricie and the Lanaudière region. This park offers chalet rental, small game hunting, fishing, camping and ready-to-camp services. (updated Nov 2021)
• 6 Parc régional du lac Taureau (Taureau Lake Regional Park), ☏ +1 450-834-7750. Park administered by the MRC Matawinie in the Lanaudière region around Lac Taureau. It has 45 islands and 32 km of sandy shores. There are many recreational tourism activities, such as vacationing, boating, water sports and hiking trails. (updated Nov 2021)
• 7 ZEC du Chapeau-de-Paille (on route 155, take the Mékinac bridge (westbound), spanning the Saint-Maurice river at Rivière-Matawin), ☏ +1 819 537-7168. Controlled exploitation zone (ZEC) created in 1978 in the MRC of Mékinac, in Mauricie. This ZEC covers 1,270 km² (490 sq mi), covering the townships of Badeaux, Arcand, Seigneurie du Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Brehault, Livernois and Normand. (updated Nov 2021)
• 8 Trois-Rives, ☏ +1 819 537-7168. Since 1972, the municipality of Trois-Rives (formerly designated "Municipalité Boucher" has five hamlets or villages: Saint-Joseph-de-Mékinac, Rivière-Matawin, Olscamps, Grande-Anse and part of Rivière-aux-Rats. Sa economic vocation is focused on forestry, agriculture and recreational tourism (vacation, hunting & fishing, swimming, snowmobiling, mountain biking, etc.). The Mékinac bridge erected at Matawin (over the Saint-Maurice river) gives privileged access to the ZEC du Chapeau -de-Paille and the Saint-Maurice wildlife reserve. (updated Nov 2021)