ZEC Tawachiche

The ZEC Tawachiche is a controlled harvesting zone, entirely included in the municipality of Lac-aux-Sables, in the regional county municipality (MRC) of Mékinac.

This ZEC was incorporated in 1978, following the abolition of private hunting & fishing clubs on public land. This ZEC is administered by the "Association de chasse, pêche et villégiature Tawachiche inc" (Tawachiche Hunting, Fishing and Resort Association inc). The toponym "ZEC Tawachiche" derives from the toponym of the "Tawachiche River" which crosses its territory.

The main recreational and tourist activities on the territory of the ZEC are: hiking (including the observation of flora, fauna and landscapes), climbing, berry picking, hunting, fishing, nautical activities (swimming, canoeing, kayaking, boating), mountain biking, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.

ZEC Tawachiche has the advantage of being one of the southernmost ZECs in the administrative region of Mauricie; which accommodates visitors by facilitating their transport, supply and access to services.

Understand
ZEC Tawachiche covers an area of. In the ZEC, there are 128 lakes. The ZEC has four rivers: Awachiche River, West Tawachiche River, rivière du Milieu and rivière à l'eau morte. The waters of the northern part of the ZEC flow through the slope of the valley of the Saint-Maurice River (via the Mékinac river); while the southern part of the ZEC, by the slope of the Batiscan River. ZEC Tawachiche borders with ZEC de la Besonne to the north.

Zec Tawachiche administers two reception posts. The main reception post is in Audy (often referred to as "Veillet"), or 9.1 km north of the intersection of route 153 in the village of Hervey-Jonction. The second reception station is north of the Rivière aux Eaux Mortes (in the past, it was located near the Rivière du Milieu). This second reception post is 25 km (by road) from the hamlet of Carignan, which is on route 155, 12 km south of La Tuque. From the hamlet of Carignan, visitors take the Carignan road south-east, passing the village of Lac-à-Beauce, then follow the road which is more or less parallel to the Canadian National Railway line heading towards the Rivière du Milieu.

Travellers can also access the ZEC by seaplane by landing on the Masketsi, Roberge, à l'Ours or Hackett lakes.



Go
The ZEC Tawachiche territory is accessible by road vehicle, ATV, snowmobile, by train (with VIA Rail Canada) and even by air (Lac-aux-Sables airport and seaplanes).

By car

 * From Montreal (. Time: 2 hr 49 min. Take highway 40 (north shore) eastbound, to Trois-Rivières; take Highway 55 (northbound) to Grand-Mère, which becomes Highway 155 and cross the Saint-Maurice River bridge; take route 153 (eastbound) through the villages of Hérouxville, Saint-Tite and Sainte-Thècle, to the village of Hervey-Jonction; from there, take the chemin du lac en Coeur (northbound) which becomes the chemin Tawachiche, until the Audy reception.
 * From Quebec City (. Time: 1 hr 50 min. Take highway 40 (direction West), to Grondines; take the Chemin de St-Casimir (or Route Guilbault) to the village of Saint-Casimir; take route 363 (northbound) passing through the village of Saint-Ubalde, Lac-aux-Sables and Hervey-Jonction; from there, take the chemin du lac en Coeur (northbound) which becomes the chemin Tawachiche, until the Audy reception.