Hunting and fishing

Nature’s bounty

For Québecers, beneficiaries of an abundant wildlife, hunting and fishing are more than just sports. They provide a unique opportunity to get back to basics and to re-discover the essential elements of their natural heritage. In the forests, lakes and rivers that make up this immense territory that is Québec, outfitters offer hunting and fishing enthusiasts lodging, equipment, guides and other logistical support—in a word, all the amenities needed to facilitate encounters with big caribou, moose and deer, black bears, and battling fish!

Caribou

Black bear hunting

Bear country

A legendary animal, if ever there was one, and a central character in Aboriginal mythology, the black bear is regarded with both fascination and fear. In reality, this solitary and reserved animal tends to avoid human contact. These omnivores eat just about anything in their path. Adult males, stocky and massive, weigh about 80 kg (175 lb.), although they’ve been known to weigh up to 160 kg (350 lb.). The female is much smaller and on average weighs no more than 60 kg (130 lb.).

In Québec, where controlled hunting is permitted, the black bear population numbers over 60,000. This singular hunt takes place on territories that have been carefully prepared by outfitters who lay bear bait. For their part, hunters spot bears from towers solidly attached to trees and monitor the bear’s approach as it moves through the forest unaware of the hunter’s presence. This technique minimizes the chances of the bear—whose senses are honed to detect odour and movement—of spotting the hunter. Clearly, bear hunting is about lying in wait unless you have a rare chance encounter.

Some outfitters also offer black bear observation and photo safaris in similar conditions, an ideal activity for the whole family.