Réserve faunique Mastigouche

There are over 135 fishing lakes in 10 accommodation sectors:

• Ouabiti
  • Du Cap
  • Aubry
  • De la Tête rustic shelter
• Sable
  • De la Ferme
• Des Îles
• Shawinigan
• Jouet
• Shawinigan rustic shelter
•  Houde-Patoulet
  • Mastigou
  • Orignac
• Violon
  • Hollis
  • Brochard
  • Joe rustic shelter
• Marcotte
• St-Bernard

If you're interested in a fishing stay, lakes for next-day fishing are assigned by random draw, every evening, at the park warden's cabin of each accommodations sector, except for isolated accommodation units (Aubry, Du Cap, De La Ferme, Jouet, Orignac, Hollis, Brochard, Joe, De La Tête) given to the registration centre.

Catch and possession limits:

• Speckled trout: 7
• Splake: 2
• Landlocked salmon: 2
• Lake trout: 2

Period: see the Fishing Package with Accomodations

Documentation and statistics

Map Library

Over a hundred lakes are available for day fishing. A watercraft is provided on most lakes. The fish species are speckled trout, lake trout, splake, and landlocked salmon. Two motors are available for rent in each Registration Centres, all for day fishing.

Period: May 19 to September 4, 2023

Lac au Sorcier - Random draw

Given the great popularity of Lac au Sorcier in the Réserve faunique Mastigouche, Sépaq holds each spring a random draw for the attribution of day fishing on this lake. There are five boats available per day that can hold up to three anglers each.

Period: June 2 to July 17, 2023 (can be extended if quotas are not reached)

Regular and high seasons dates

Rates

Day Fishing Plan – 2023 (in French only)

Documentation and statistics

Map Library

Practical guide for apprentice enthusiasts

Book

Three rivers are offered for wading:

• Du Loup and Des Îles Est rivers (Pins-Rouges sector)
• Mastigouche Nord river (Catherine sector)

No reservation is necessary. Just get your right of access at the registration centre or online.

Note that it's now also possible to fish the Des Îles Est and Du Loup rivers under a single right of access, at no additional cost.

Period: May 12 to September 4, 2023

Rates

Day Fishing Plan – 2023 (in French only)

Documentation and statistics

Map Library

Practical guide for apprentice enthusiasts

Book

Some lakes are available for adventuresome anglers (equipped with a map, compass, and GPS) who fish from a watercraft or while wading. You can camp by a body of water (by paying the applicable rate). Reservations cannot be taken more than 48 hours in advance. For information, contact the staff from the wildlife reserve (from May to September).

Period: May 19 to September 4, 2023

Documentation and statistics

With fishing-camping, you can enjoy fishing on a lake next to the campsite you’ve reserved. The package, including campsite, fishing access rights, and boat is available at Bouteille and Soufflet lakes (period vary depending the lake).

Periods:

• May 19 to September 4, 2023
• May 17 to September 4, 2024

A pontoon for recreational use and another pontoon for fishing are available for hire exclusively for accommodation guests in Lac Shawinigan sector.

Rental available for a full day. Rates

With a six-person capacity, these 16-foot pontoons are equipped with comfortable padded benches or with swivel seats for fishing, a 9.9 hp motor, a swimming platform, and a 12-volt electrical outlet.

Bookings by phone with the staff of the wildlife reserve.

Hike along short trails like the Six-Chutes trail. This trail features interpretation panels and an observation tower. Discover the Falaise trail located near Saint-Bernard campground.

Table of trails

The side roads are ideal for mountain biking. Inform yourself at the registration centre before you go biking.

Several lakes are accessible to people with their own canoes or kayaks. Ask our staff for more information.

Canoes, kayaks, and pedal boats are also available for rent at Lac Saint-Bernard. Make sure you bring adequate life jackets for your children.

Period: May to September

Technical advices before going canoeing (see the video)

Picnic areas have been set aside on Route 1 and near the Six-Chutes trail, which are accessible via the Pins-Rouges Registration Centre.

Period: May to October (except during moose hunting season)

The Six-Chutes trail leads to a waterfowl observation tower at Lac Bourassa. Also to discover: the Falaise trail located in the Saint-Bernard campground sector.

Raspberries and blueberries are available in abundance on the territory of the reserve.

Period: August

Hundreds of kilometres of roads and trails criss-cross the territory and provide access to Ruffed Grouse, Spruce Grouse, and snowshoe hare habitats. You can also hunt migratory birds if you have a migratory game bird hunting licence in addition to the small game hunting licence. Use of hunting dogs (flushers, retrievers, or pointers) is allowed. For those who use ATVs for hunting, there are specially designated trails.

The use of ATVs is allowed for hunters who book a small game hunting package with accommodation in the Lac Shawinigan and Ouabiti sectors.

Several accommodations packages are available: cabin, rustic shelter and camping.

Period: see the Small Game Hunting Package

Documentation and statistics

Map Library

Small game hunting is available by the day. Hunters must purchase their right of access on line or at the reserve. There are specially marked ATV trails for fans of motorized hunting. The species you can hunt are Ruffed Grouse, Spruce Grouse and snowshoe hare.

Periods:

• October 7 to 22, 2023 (sector B only)
• October 23 to November 29, 2023 (all the territory)

Please note that the three registration centres will be closed for the season starting October 23, 2023. You can pay your daily access fee online or at our administrative office in Saint-Alexis-des-Monts (Monday to Friday).

Rates

Documentation and statistics

Map Library

Réserve faunique Mastigouche belongs to provincial hunting zone #26 West. Moose hunting is limited by quota and subject to random draw. It's offered under the European plan with 3 accommodation packages: cabin, rustic shelter, and campground. Using ATVs is allowed for hunting but not on numbered roads. The territory is divided into about 75 hunting sectors with an average area of 20 km².

Harvesting of males and calves is allowed each year and a certain number of female adult moose hunting licences are issued by random draw.

Density: 5.2 animals/10 km² according to the 2005 inventory

Period: see the Moose Hunting Package

Hunting regulations for this wildlife reserve

Hunting statistics

Spring hunting of black bears is offered under the American plan only. It is done on lookout sites that have been carefully prepared in advance. This activity is run by concession holders. For information, contact:

• Aventures Big Bears Hunt (Claude Turcotte), 514-349-3562
• Gestion Faune (Érick Richard), 579-766-2885

Period:

• May 15 to June 30, 2023

A provincial snowmobile trail crosses the reserve, thus linking the regional trails. No services are available within the wildlife reserve.

Trail map and conditions

Children under 18, accompanied by an adult with a small game day hunting right of access, are allowed to hunt for free.

A family hunting package under the European plan is offered by random draw at 25% off the regular price for the whole group of hunters. To be eligible, a young hunter between 12 and 17 years old must actively participate in the hunt and be present during the entire trip. 

For more information about this activity, see the Moose hunting section.

Packages

A family package for 2 adults and their children under 18 is available from early July to early September.

At All Times

In addition, children under 18 are lodged for free in relation to the number of adults at the time of reservation, based on the following criteria:

• 2 children for 5 or fewer adults
• 4 children for 6 or more adults.

Children under 18, accompanied by an adult with a day fishing right of access, are allowed to fish for free.

In addition, children under 18 are lodged for free in relation to the number of adults at the time of reservation, based on the following criteria:

• 2 children for 5 or fewer adults
• 4 children for 6 or more adults.