Réserve faunique Mastigouche

Portrait

History

Réserve du Parc Mastigouche, later named Réserve faunique Mastigouche, was created in 1971 as part of "Accessibility"-a government operation to democratize hunting and fishing activities. The aim was to buy up territories formerly occupied by exclusive fish and game clubs and make them available to the people of Québec. Here, most of the territory was covered by three clubs: The Mastigouche, The Saint-Bernard, and The Commodore. Their members were largely Americans.

Looking at the heritage left by these private clubs, we cannot help but admire the built environment of the Commodore Club. Several of its loghouse lodges have stood by the shores of Lac Shawinigan for a century. Located on an exceptional site and built using dovetail joints, they are the pride of the reserve and are available through fishing or vacation packages.

The name Mastigouche comes from the name of the former private fish and game club, which was granted in 1881 to Élisabeth Copeland de Berthier. It's believed to mean "where the wood is small" in an Amerindian language, probably Atikamekw.

In 1971, the territory was established as a hunting and fishing reserve under the name of Réserve du Parc Mastigouche. For several years, it was better known by the name of Parc Mastigouche. Its classification as a wildlife reserve dates to 1979.


Attractions

While staying in Réserve faunique Mastigouche, don't miss its main attractions:

  • Les Six-Chutes (six waterfalls)
  • Maubèche falls
  • The exceptional woods of the Saint-Bernard campground

Lac Sorcier is one of the most popular lakes of Réserve faunique Mastigouche. It owes its name to an old legend about a sorcerer who haunted the island in the lake and kept people awake at night by making strange noises. How did this lake become a home for landlocked salmon? The explanation is almost a legend in itself. Around 1920, the members of the former Saint-Bernard Club seeded Lac Saint-Bernard, Lac Sans-Bout, and Lac Sorcier with landlocked salmon from Lac Saint-Jean. Over time, the salmon have disappeared from Lac Saint-Bernard and Lac Sans-Bout, but they're still frolicking in the waters of Lac Sorcier.

Fact Sheet

Area

1,565 km2


Bodies of water

417 lakes

13 rivers and several streams


Fish

  • Landlocked salmon (in Lac Sorcier)
  • Speckled trout (in all lakes)
  • Splake (in Llakes Tremblay and Jouet)
  • Lake trout (in lakes Saint-Bernard, Tonnerre, Chamberlain, aux Sables and Noël)

Birds

Several species, including

  • Golden eagle
  • Osprey
  • Ruffed grouse
  • Loon

Animals

About thirty mammal species, including

  • White-tailed deer
  • Hare
  • Wolf
  • Lynx
  • Moose
  • Black bear

Forest cover

Different types of maple stands as well as mixed stands and conifers.


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