ZEC du Chapeau-de-Paille
controlled harvesting zone in Mékinac Regional County Municipality, Québec
The ZEC du Chapeau-de-Paille is a controlled exploitation zone (ZEC) in the unorganized territories of Lac-Normand and Rivière-de-la-Savane of the MRC de Mékinac, in Mauricie.
This ZEC borders the Réserve faunique du Saint-Maurice to the east, to La Mauricie National Park to the south-east, to the Réserve faunique Mastigouche to the south, to Lac Taureau Regional Park to the southeast and to ZEC du Gros-Brochet to the north. It was incorporated in 1978.
ZEC du Chapeau-de-Paille is the second largest in surface area among all ZECs in Mauricie, as well as the tenth largest ZEC in Quebec. The 11 ZECs of Mauricie cover a total area of 7,318 km (2,825 sq mi).
According to the Commission de toponymie du Québec, this toponym comes from the Chapeau-de-Paille stream in the northern sector of the ZEC. The origin of this toponymic designation would be attributed to a relief of land taking the shape of a hat.
This ZEC was formed from former territories of around 43 private hunting and fishing clubs. The former private club Metallos is recognized as having been one of the largest clubs in the current territory of the ZEC.