How do the ZECS work in Quebec?

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Redlich

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Hello CGN'ers,

I have two hunting seasons under my belt in Alberta and Ontario... kind of piecing things together myself since I lack a mentor. I've recently moved to Quebec and I'm trying to plan ahead for next season so I know what to do, where to go, and how it works instead of being left hanging.

The general consensus of the last thread I read here about hunting in Quebec was that going through one of the ZECS seems to be the way to go. I've looked at the websites of a couple of them, and I'm not entirely sure how the system works. Do you need to book ahead or reserve with them, or do you just show up on the day of? Is it possible to scout the area at all ahead of time, or set up a blind there a month in advance? I'm willing to travel quite a ways to be successful, are any zecs known to be under especially heavy pressure, and are there any that are known to have especially high populations of whitetails and moose? And finally, just to confirm, is it really better to use a zec than just a general area?

I also noticed that two of the zecs I checked the "daily rates" for didn't have a rate for whitetail deer hunting. There was a rate for moose, bear, and small game, but not for deer. Was that because you don't need to pay a special fee to hunt deer there, or is it because you're not allowed to hunt deer there? Or is it covered under another fee like "small game" or "moose"?

I realize some of these questions I can ask the zecs themselves by calling, but I'd like the input of the people on this board, especially for a direction of where to go. I'm guessing that the further north you go, the less hunting pressure there is. Am I right?

Finally, just to throw it out there... :) As I said I'm new to the province and I don't have anyone to hunt with yet. Is there anyone out there willing to take a fellow CGN'er out and get him started on the right track in the sport? Or is there an established group that has room for a new eager member? I have all my own equipment and certification.

Thanks for reading!
Red
 
On further research, checking out other zec websites, I can't find a single one that says you're allowed to hunt whitetails. Many mention every other species:

"° black bear;
° moose;
° duck;
° ruffed grouse;
° snow hare;
° wolf;
° migratory birds (goose,
snow goose);
° fox;
° spuce grouse."

But no deer, and no listing for deer hunting as a fee or as a season. What gives?

*Edit* I've found a few zecs now that say you can hunt deer, but just a couple. Is deer hunting forbidden in the others, or is it taken as a given that it's allowed?
 
I have never hunted in a zec but have been considering it . I would just buy the year membership witch seem's to be around 250$ for everything .

That way you have the oppertunity to scout before season , see where the game you want is , & post it if the area isn't already spoken for .

This site may be interresting www.zecquebec.com if you haven't already browsed it .

Forgot to add this , zec de Saint-Romain offers deer hunts as dose zec Louise-Gosford .

I don't think the deer population is as plentyfull as Moose & Bear in the northern zecs

Good luck
 
mahony1977 said:
I don't think the deer population is as plentyfull as Moose & Bear in the northern zecs
Click to expand...

Yup. You can only hunt deer with a rifle south of the river. On the north side it's only a very short shotgun season. And blackpowder, crossbow and bow. Up north no season at all.

If you want to hunt in deer paradise, check out Anticosti. It has 'cost' in its name, so...
 
Hunt deer in a wildlife reserve or on Anticosti Island

In the Wildlife Reserves
White-tailed deer hunting is limited in the wildlife reserves. It is subject to a random draw. Groups generally consist of 4-6 hunters. The bag limit is one animal per hunter. To shoot a doe, you must have an antlerless deer hunting licence. Group hunting is permitted. You may even share an antlerless deer hunting licence.

Deer/Moose combination
At the Papineau-Labelle and Rimouski wildlife reserves, a combination white-tailed deer and moose hunting package is offered by random draw.

Sépaq Anticosti
The deer hunting licence for Anticosti Island is valid only on the island. Therefore, your bag limit for the island does not affect your bag limit for any hunting you do on the mainland in the same year. The bag limit is 2 deer (male or female) per hunter. In the past 10 years, packages with a guide had an average success rate of 1.73 deer/hunter, and the success rate for packages without a guide was 1.30 deer/hunter throughout the territory. Group hunting is permitted.

The Sépaq Anticosti outfitting service holds a random draw for a non-guided, 4-day deer hunting package in European plan accommodations, a cabin or a rustic shelter. Groups must comprise four hunters.

To book all other packages (with a guide) at any time, call 1 800 463-0863. The number of hunters may vary from one to more than five. Single people may be paired with odd-numbered groups to fill a 4-person cabin.

American plan packages include bedding, meals, a guide and...comfort. These 2- or 4-day hunting packages include a guide for 2 or 4 hunters.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pricing
Starting at

$280.00
/stay/hunter
camping, 5-night stay



Taxes not included
•Rate for a group of 4 hunters
•2011 rates
•Current rate for La Vérendrye, Papineau-Labelle and Rouge-Matawin wildlife reserves. For the other wildlife reserves, check the Random Draws 2011 brochure.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.sepaq.com/
 
Thanks for the information! It's very helpful. I was hoping to avoid subjecting myself to any draws, but it sounds like it's pretty normal to go through them. It's a little intimidating to do having never done a draw before, but I'm sure it's not so bad in reality ;)

If anyone else has any other ideas or suggestions, I'd love to hear them!
 
I've fished in the ones across from Rapides des Joachim. I know guys hunt in there, you have to buy a pass in addition to your license.

I can't really help much though, thats all I know.
 
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