Cupido Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Cupido Wildlife Management Area is 1,196 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Norman County, near Syre, inside Deer Permit Area 666. The DNR's WMA data lists deer and small game for it. Hunters registered 686 deer in DPA 666 in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's wildlife management area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: DNR Deer Harvest Reports, 2021 to 2025.
State wildlife management areasState forest and other DNR landNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasCupido WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,196 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Norman County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 666 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Syre |
| DNR area office | Detroit Lakes |
| Nearest towns | Ulen (6 mi), Twin Valley (6 mi) and Borup (8 mi) |
What is Cupido WMA like?
This WMA is mainly wet prairie with lowland grasses, sedges, and lowland shrubs located in an inter-beach area of glacial Lake Agassiz. The northeast portion of this unit contains a mesic prairie with native upland grasses.
The Neal WMA to the north and the Twin Valley WMA to the east adjoin this unit offering users additional wildlife opportunities. Along with animals associated with wet and mesic prairies, upland sandpipers, marbled godwits, and Wilson's phalaropes have nested in the area. Two special concern plants have been located here: the small white lady's-slipper and the northern gentian.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Cupido WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer and small game for Cupido WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Cupido WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Cupido WMA?
Cupido WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 666. The DNR registered 686 deer in DPA 666 in 2025.
| DPA | Cupido WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DPA 666 | 1,196 | 686 |
Harvest for the whole deer permit area, not the WMA alone: Minnesota DNR Deer Harvest Reports (2021 to 2025, 2025 report).
How do you get to Cupido WMA?
From Syre, go 3 m. W on CO RD #39.
Access for people with disabilities is limited to the road. There are no parking lots or facilities on this WMA.
Nearest towns: Ulen (6 miles), Twin Valley (6 miles), Borup (8 miles) and Felton (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 32 and MN 113.
What other public land is near Cupido WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Twin Valley WMA: 1,627 acres, next to it
- Neal WMA: 1,851 acres, next to it
- Syre WMA: 510 acres, 2 miles away
- Dalby WMA: 116 acres, 2 miles away
- Rockwell WMA: 209 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Ulen WMA: 480 acres, 4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Cupido WMA
Counting Cupido WMA itself, 5,275 of the 30,844 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (17.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 5,025 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 250 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Cupido WMA?
In Norman County, near Syre. The DNR's directions: From Syre, go 3 m. W on CO RD #39.
Which deer permit area is Cupido WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 666. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Cupido WMA?
5,275 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Cupido WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Twin Valley WMA (next to it).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Minnesota included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Cupido WMA; Minnesota DNR Wildlife Management Area boundaries, publicly accessible.
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
- Deer harvest: Minnesota DNR Deer Harvest Reports (2021 to 2025, 2025 report).
FilledTag is not part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.