Zec du Chapeau-de-Paille, Controlled harvesting zone in Mékinac, Mauricie, Canada

Zec du Chapeau-de-Paille is a controlled harvesting zone (zone d'exploitation contrôlée) of 1,270 km² in the MRC de Mékinac, Mauricie, Quebec, created in 1978 and administered by Association Nature inc. It borders Zec du Gros-Brochet to the north, Zec Wessonneau to the northeast, the Saint-Maurice Wildlife Reserve to the east, La Mauricie National Park to the southeast and the Mastigouche Wildlife Reserve to the south, and encloses the Irénée-Marie Ecological Reserve. Its territory spans the townships of Badeaux, Arcand, Seigneurie du Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Brehault, Livernois and Normand, and holds lakes such as des Aigles, Bill, Bouchard, Bon-Air, Boulter, de la Buse, Cadotte, à la Chienne, des Chaussées, Clara, Grand lac du Couteau, de la Culbute Sud, Descoste, Descoteaux, Duff, au Glacier, Godin, Hilda, Lafleur, Lessard, de la Ligne, Loa, Madelon, Montagne, Narrow, Grand Lac Pépin, Râteau, Régis, Rusty, Ruth, Siffleux, Willard and Windfield.

The zec was created in 1978 during Quebec's Opération déclubage, when the territory's 43 private hunting and fishing clubs were dissolved; the largest, Club Metallos, had held exclusive rights over more than 40 lakes, including Sergerie and Price. Management was entrusted to Association Nature inc. Some former clubs still keep installations, such as Association Emery inc. on the shores of Lac Nature.

The name comes from Lake and Stream Chapeau de Paille, mapped in 1940 and likely a translation of the English "Strawhat" on early 20th-century maps, after a relief shaped like a straw hat. Before the zec was created, 43 private hunting and fishing clubs covered the territory; the largest, club Metallos, held exclusive rights over more than 40 lakes, including Sergerie and Price. Some former clubs still keep installations here, such as Association Emery inc. on the shores of Lake Nature.

The zec covers 1,270 km² across the townships of Badeaux, Arcand, Brehault, Livernois and Normand, in the MRC de Mékinac. It borders the Zec du Gros-Brochet, Zec Wessonneau, the Saint-Maurice and Mastigouche wildlife reserves and La Mauricie National Park, and encloses the Irénée-Marie ecological reserve. Access is by road from the Mauricie; the territory is administered by Association Nature inc.

Before the zec was created in 1978, its territory was divided among 43 private hunting and fishing clubs; the largest, the Metallos club, held exclusive rights over more than 40 lakes, including Sergerie and Price. Some former clubs still keep installations inside the zec, such as Association Emery inc. on the shores of Lac Nature.