Neal Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Neal Wildlife Management Area is 1,851 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, ducks and geese 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 areasNeal WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,851 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Norman County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 666 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Syre |
| DNR area office | Detroit Lakes |
| Nearest towns | Twin Valley (5 mi), Borup (7 mi) and Ulen (7 mi) |
What is Neal WMA like?
This unit is in an inter-beach area of glacial Lake Agassiz: wet prairie with lowland grasses, sedges, shrubs, and trees. The Twin Valley Prairie SNA and Cupido and Twin Valley WMAs are adjoining. The southeastern corner contains a mesic prairie.
Greater prairie-chicken booming grounds. Upland sandpipers, Wilson's phalaropes, sharp-tailed sparrows, and yellow rails have nested in the area. Prairie voles occur here. A special concern plant, the small white lady's-slipper, has been located here.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Neal WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese and small game for Neal WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Neal WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Neal WMA?
Neal WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 666. The DNR registered 686 deer in DPA 666 in 2025.
| DPA | Neal WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DPA 666 | 1,851 | 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 Neal WMA?
From Syre, go 2¼ m. W on CO RD #39.
There are no parking lots or facilities on this WMA.
Nearest towns: Twin Valley (5 miles), Borup (7 miles), Ulen (7 miles) and Ada (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 32 and MN 113.
What other public land is near Neal WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Cupido WMA: 1,196 acres, next to it
- Twin Valley WMA: 1,627 acres, next to it
- Dalby WMA: 116 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Syre WMA: 510 acres, 1.1 miles away
- Rockwell WMA: 209 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Vangsness WMA: 325 acres, 3.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Neal WMA
Counting Neal WMA itself, 5,617 of the 34,579 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (16.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 5,351 |
| State forest and other DNR land | 266 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Neal WMA?
In Norman County, near Syre. The DNR's directions: From Syre, go 2¼ m. W on CO RD #39.
Which deer permit area is Neal WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 666. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Neal WMA?
5,617 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Neal WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Cupido WMA (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Neal 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.