What are Zecs?

Presentation

Controlled harvesting zones or Zecs are territorial infrastructures that were set up in 1978 to take over for private clubs. The management of these zones was entrusted to non-profit organizations. The latter are managed by honorary administrators who are elected by the members of each Zec. These organizations are responsible for the management and conservation of wildlife on their territories.

The success of this one-of-a-kind system is ensured by 580 volunteers who make up the boards of directors. They are first and foremost users that take care of the management of wildlife on the territory for which they are responsible.

There are 62 hunting, fishing and recreational Zecs throughout the province except in Northern Québec. They cover almost 50,000 km² of land. In addition to these territorial entities, the Government also created 21 salmon Zecs and one waterfowl Zec.

History

On May 9, 1885, the Government of Québec ratified a piece of legislation to facilitate the creation of clubs in order to help the Government enforce game and fish protection legislation. The purpose of creating private clubs and an exclusive fishing and hunting right system was to protect wildlife in a cost-effective manner and to provide the Government with additional revenue.

Beginning in 1885, the number of hunting and fishing clubs gradually increased to reach 615 by the end of World War II. The surface area covered at that time was 30,000 km². Thereafter, growth accelerated and peaked in the mid-1960s with almost 2,200 clubs. These clubs covered some 78,000 km² of Québec territory.

With the relative affluence that accompanied the economic boom in the post-war years, the number of hunting and fishing enthusiasts, as well as the interest shown in other recreational activities in a natural setting rose substantially. With the greater demand for free access to natural areas, the Government had to find an alternative to the system of exclusive fishing and hunting rights.

Beginning in 1966, the Government adopted various measures seeking to increase access to the wildlife territory. Several exclusive right leases were revoked, resulting in a gradual decrease in the number of such leases to almost 1,200 in 1976. The surface area of the territory was  42,000 km². There were 27,000 members in clubs at that time, 6,500 fewer than in 1970.

In December 1977, the Government of Québec decided to not renew the recreational hunting and fishing leases and to take charge of wildlife management on its territory. This marked the beginning of Opération gestion faune (Wildlife management operation) and led to the creation of the controlled harvesting zones in the spring of 1978.

With this decision, the Government put an end to a system that no longer had its place in a modern state. During all these years, Québec was the only place in the world where exclusive hunting and fishing rights were granted over such a large area of public lands.

With the creation of Zecs, the role of the Government changed somewhat. Users who are members of the management associations help the Government in the management of wildlife resources.

While Opération gestion faune put an end to private hunting and fishing clubs in 1978, it did not change the status of outfitters who held exclusive commercial rights. This system still exists today, and more than 200 outfitters are availing themselves of it at the present time.

Objectives

The management of a Zec is based on the following four main objectives:

1. Wildlife conservation

Management organizations must oversee the monitoring and control of wildlife harvesting in order to ensure a balance between the demand by users and the wildlife supply;

2. Access to wildlife resources

Organizations must see to it that everyone has equal access to the territory and to the recreational use of wildlife;

3. Participation of users

The participation of users constitutes an essential element in the Zec concept. These zones are democratic entities, managed and administered by users acting on a volunteer basis;

4. Operations must be self-financing

Zec operations must be self-financing. This is achieved through revenues from the sale of membership cards and daily access rights, as well as the sale of hunting or fishing packages or packages combining both these activities.

New orientations
In December 1999, Zecs proposed the following orientations to the Minister:
1. Meet the new demand for recreational products other than fishing and hunting in a natural setting.

2. Be a driving force in the development of outdoor activities.
These orientations have been accepted.

To give concrete expression to these new orientations, Zec managers are in the process of developing recreational-tourism plans. These plans will then be submitted for consultation to members of their regional wildlife group and to local organizations, prior to being approved by the Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec.

Following this approval, the boards of directors in question will be able to set the rates for recreational-tourism activities that were identified in their respective plan.

Rates for recreational activities

You may have to pay to use an observation site in a given Zec while not having to pay for the same privilege in another Zec. Zecs will be authorized to charge a fee if the activity was identified in the development plan.

Activities offered

The number of activities offered in Zecs is practically unlimited! In short, virtually anything that can be done in a natural setting is available on the territory, but not necessarily in all Zecs.

For your information, here is a list of the activities that you can practice on your own:

" Hunting (moose, white-tailed deer, black bear, partridge, hare, American woodcock)
" Fishing (brook charr, lake trout, walleye, pike, other species)
" Hiking
" Canoeing
" Canoe-camping
" Mountain-biking
" Climbing
" Vacationing and cottage rental
" Camping
" Observing wildlife and nature
" Wild berry picking, etc.

Several lakes have magnificent beaches while the territories abound in sites presenting a variety of interests: falls, geological formations, scenic vistas, etc.
To find out if a given activity is available on the territory you are going to, visit the Web site of the Zec. It is as easy as ABC!

Visiting a Zec

A Zec is a territory that is open to all recreational enthusiasts. Unlike in the case of other wildlife territories, you don't need to plan you trip well ahead of time or to make reservations. Furthermore, once there, it is easy to travel from one lake to the next. However, to preserve wildlife resources and to protect territories, recreational enthusiasts must check in at the reception desk and pay a user fee. This helps to finance the Zec while registration seeks to ensure safety and to monitor users.

The user fee takes on various forms. It can be a daily fee if you are planning on doing an activity for one day only. On the other hand, if you are planning on visiting the Zec on a regular basis, it will be to your advantage to opt for an annual individual or family package for a single activity such as fishing or for all activities available at the Zec. Rates vary depending on the package chosen and from one Zec to another.

Furthermore, if the user wants to volunteer to take part in the activities of the management association, he must become a member , which entails paying a nominal fee. As a member, you have the right to vote at meetings and to participate in the decision-making process concerning the Zec's activities. You will also benefit from discounts on fishing and hunting packages, etc.

As the name indicates, a controlled harvesting zone is a territory where fish and game harvests are monitored closely. It is for this reason that hunters and fishers must report their catches. The data collected help managers to be constantly informed of the quantity of species harvested and to adjust the hunting and fishing conditions accordingly, from one year to the next or during the season.