Lac Portage

A former private club of the Breakey family, Pourvoirie du Lac Portage sits on a 22 km² forest territory in the Beauce, at Saint-Théophile, right along the Canada-US border. Native brook trout and rainbow trout are fished on four entirely private lakes — Lac Portage (421 hectares, the largest in Chaudière-Appalaches), Lac Champagne (63 ha), Lac Castors (15 ha) and Lac Coburn (10 ha) — from 10 May to 30 October, boat included, with built spawning beds and lakes stocked for trophy trout. On the hunting side, strict QDM management (only mature six-point-plus bucks are taken) produces trophy deer; partridge hunting is also offered and moose hunting is currently paused. Lodging is at the century-old Auberge, with its six bedrooms, ancestral stone fireplace and dining room looking out over the lake, or in five rustic chalets sleeping two to twelve people, on the European plan (American plan occasionally). Every lodging package includes fishing rights and boat access. Swimming, a hiking trail, kayaking, a pontoon and the boat-access-only 'soft rock' picnic spot are all free, and the Auberge also hosts VIP days, meetings and events with gastronomic meals. The territory is owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, which protects it in perpetuity.