Identifying Crown Land in Quebec

Theorem

Theorem

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Can anyone point me to a resource for identifying crown land in Quebec for hunting?

Ontario has a great interactive map, but I can't find anything equivalent in QC.

I've contacted the MRNF to ask if I could buy maps that clearly show where I can legally hunt, but I was told they have no such maps available and that I'd have to check with each municipality. So, I've also gone into the municipality databases for the areas I'm interested in hunting, and they show every lot in their entire jurisdiction, who owns it, what its worth, and all kinds of private info, but the 2 times I took a drive to check out land marked as "Owned by the Government of Quebec" in their database, I've been met with Private Property and No Hunting signs. I've spoken with hunters in the area, and while they are happy to tell me the hunting there is fantastic, for some very understandable reasons they won't share exactly where "there" is with strangers... hahah. ;)

Any help would be appreciated, I have a cottage in Quebec and I would love to use it as a staging ground to get back into some bird hunting! But before I go, I'd want to be 100% sure I can legally do it.
 
Crown land is easy to find in Quebec. It is called a Zec and you have to pay the Zec to hunt on it.So just find on the maps where each Zec is and you have it made. For the one I know of it is $150 bucks to join to hunt and fish. Zone 13.It does cut down on the hunters also by the way.
 
So, if I get this right, besides your licence for hunting in Quebec, you have to pay again for the "priviledge" to hunt again on public unoccupied crown lands, and not private land.
Sounds kind of like extortion to me, but hey whatever.........:confused:

I'm glad those democratic rules are far from myself.
 
There are no Crown lands in Quebec.
Crown Lands is a Canadian Concept, alien to the Sovereign Nation of Quebec.
Didn't you listen to that Mathieu guy from Dawson during the 2nd SECU (?) C-19 Committee hearing?
 
There is lots of Crown land in Que , Zecs do opperate on some of it but there is far more than just that . I would be interested in a legitimate response to you'r question as well .
 
Yeah, I know there's gotta be tons of available crown land. Quebec advertises something like 98% of their land surface area is "Public Land". I saw lots of ZECs around, but I was just wondering how to find areas to try, even if they aren't trophy level hunting. I just wanna walk through the bush again looking for birds. I miss that feeling.

The absolute killer is that if I went on property that I assumed was crown land, and I was wrong, I'm 100% sure with my luck I'd get caught and charged. So what I wanna know is how can the people who police where you can and cannot hunt not provide that info to someone trying desperately to follow the rules? They clearly must have it if they are charged with enforcing it! Hell, I'd be just as happy to have a map saying where I can't hunt and I'll just do the inverse haha. ;)

I might end up having to check out a ZEC I suppose. At least they charge the same for resident as non-resident! :)
 
Ok...first off, no they do not call it crown land in Quebec. It is called Government land.
That doesn't really bother me...

Secondly, Zecs are on Government land but are privately managed and yes you have to pay to fish and hunt there. Now, I am new to hunting, so cannot rate that factor, but I used to fish speckles in Zec Rapid des Joichim which is across the river from Deep river(more or less) and the lake I fished had massive specked trout. Once a certain number of fish have been taken(size also recorded on way out of zec), they close the lake regardless of season. They are well managed I believe. I suspect the hunting would be equally good. But you still have to put in the time if you want to be successful.

Now in regards to the Government land... unfortunately, there is no easy map here like Ontario's ..and that makes it difficult.
To the OP, if the registry says it is govt. land and there are signs saying "Private property", I would call the CO and have them come and investigate. Chances are good that it is indeed crown land and locals have put up the signs to keep others out.
 
Raton57 said:
The problem being is that the other Crown land dosn't have a lot of game on it.
Click to expand...

Not sure where you hunt, but perhaps you need to find a new spot.
There is lots of game on Govt. land.
I just came back from moose hunting in Gaspe...no shortage of game my man. Not just moose in Zone 1 either. Lots of deer, bear, turkey here in zone 10 too.
I don't think the animals really care who owns the land.
 
We have always called it crown land - "terres de courrone." You need a couple of maps - the municipal and the mrnf "hunting zones" map. The municipal will identify private property and the mrnf map will identify hunting zones as well as which portion of those zones are ZEC's and pourvoiries.

It's a pain in the ass.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys.

So, if the municipal map says its government owned, the hunting regs map shows it as huntable, and there's no ZEC/Pouvoirie registered in the area, but it's got hand painted Private Property or No Hunting signs everywhere, there's a chance that its just locals keeping out the unwashed? That's pretty funny, it certainly worked in my case!

Its so hard moving to a new area. You don't realize how much you take for granted growing up somewhere and just knowing it inside and out until you are sitting at a table with 4 different conflicting maps and trying to reconcile what the hell is going on haha.

Can I actually call a CO and ask about a specific area? Maybe I should print off some maps and go see them in person. Maybe get something in writing to keep with me if I'm really insecure about it. :)
 
Forgot about the pourvoiries....Outfitters also operate on leased crown land.
I never even knew about any databases. I visit the municipal office and usually take some pics of the maps. It is a retarded process and why it is still like this is beyond me.

looch... outfitters the areas identified as class 1 and 2 lands on the Ministry maps....correct?
 
Theorem said:
Thanks for all the replies guys.

So, if the municipal map says its government owned, the hunting regs map shows it as huntable, and there's no ZEC/Pouvoirie registered in the area, but it's got hand painted Private Property or No Hunting signs everywhere, there's a chance that its just locals keeping out the unwashed? That's pretty funny, it certainly worked in my case!
Click to expand...
It often does....that is why they do it.


Theorem said:
Can I actually call a CO and ask about a specific area? Maybe I should print off some maps and go see them in person. Maybe get something in writing to keep with me if I'm really insecure about it. :)
Click to expand...
I would call the CO to touch base with them. Down east every spot on government land had signage saying "4 hunters for life" or "8 hunters-2006 on"...The numbers change, but you get the idea
It is reasonable to expect that if a hunter has been visiting a spot all summer and setting up his fall spot that other hunters respect him and find another spot. To assume however that the site will be his for life is a bit of a stretch.
If you first consult the Co, then you will have him in your corner if you need to call him again, because some local is insisting it is his and threatening you with harm if you pass.

Take a second to read this article.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...se-hunters-against-each-other/article2226611/
 
Wow... that was my other fear... people being aggressive about "their" land. I completely have no problem giving people first dibs who have worked to hunt a spot, but I'd hate to show up and have people treat me like I'm trespassing on their front lawn. Or shoot at me, jebus.

Makes paying a few bucks to hunt on a ZEC seem smart, though also like you're paying a protection fee to the Mob hahaha. Craziness...

Thanks for the heads up!
 
That is the extreme end of things.
For the most part, people will be civil. The misleading signs put are almost a given though. It happens everywhere really...Hunters all over will tell you about trails and areas marked as private, but which are in fact crown or govt. lands.
I'm not trying to discourage you...the zecs are good, but there is lots of public land to hunt on. It just takes some work.
Being new to an area... having to put in this time is to be expected though.
 
Agreed, I guess I'm just used to exploration as being fun, not stressful like this haha. I truely don't mind putting the time in. Thanks again for all your insights. :)
 
looch said:
We have always called it crown land - "terres de courrone." You need a couple of maps - the municipal and the mrnf "hunting zones" map. The municipal will identify private property and the mrnf map will identify hunting zones as well as which portion of those zones are ZEC's and pourvoiries.

It's a pain in the ass.
Click to expand...

The first bit of educated information this thread produced , thanks Looch i will be checking that out as well .
 
It happened to us at our moose fly in camp. Beausejour got the logging contract with the condition that they maintain the roads they create for 10 years after the completion of the logging operation. With that, the provincial government put up another 50 lots of land for lease - right next door to our camp. The roads got built and the people came. Emptied a prime trout fishing lake, sunk a few of our strategically placed, remote lake canoes, and started putting up signs in the bush "5 chasseurs, 1998 - 2008". Despicable, garbage - these road-hunting mother####ers.

Regarding the pourvoirie question, I'm not sure about the "class" designation, but there are outfitters with exclusive hunting/fishing rights and outfitters that just offer their services (lodging, food, transportation, etc.) If you book a hunt with one of the latter, you could and probably will be sharing hunting territory with other hunters who have not engaged that outfitter.
 
looch...that is a really ####ty deal with the new road. Sorry to hear about that.

In regards to the outfitters on crown land...some have exclusive territory with only paying sportsman having access to their land. Some outfitters have the shared rights with the public as you mentioned...Both are on government land.
I was just not sure about the class designations on the zone maps but since they don't affect my areas, I never much worried about it.
 
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