Syre Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Syre Wildlife Management Area is 510 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, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds 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 areasSyre WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 510 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Norman County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 666 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Syre |
| DNR area office | Detroit Lakes |
| Nearest towns | Twin Valley (5 mi), Ulen (5 mi) and Borup (11 mi) |
What is Syre WMA like?
This WMA consists of three separate tracts of land. The north units are mainly mesic prairie with native upland grasses. The south unit is wet prairie with lowland grasses and sedges.
Along with the birds and mammals normally associated with wet and mesic prairies, a population of a Minnesota special concern plant, the small white lady's-slipper, has been located in central sub-units.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Syre WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, ducks and geese, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds and small game for Syre WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Syre WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Syre WMA?
Syre WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 666. The DNR registered 686 deer in DPA 666 in 2025.
| DPA | Syre WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DPA 666 | 510 | 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 Syre WMA?
Go 1/2 m. S on SH #32 to the largest sub-unit; then 1/2 m. S on #32 and 1 m. E on a TWP RD to the southeastern sub-unit; from Syre, 1/2 m. W to the northwestern sub-unit.
Nearest towns: Twin Valley (5 miles), Ulen (5 miles), Borup (11 miles) and Hitterdal (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 32 and MN 113.
What other public land is near Syre WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Twin Valley WMA: 1,627 acres, next to it
- Neal WMA: 1,851 acres, 1.1 miles away
- Cupido WMA: 1,196 acres, 2 miles away
- Home WMA: 95 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Vangsness WMA: 325 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Dalby WMA: 116 acres, 4.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Syre WMA
Counting Syre WMA itself, 4,595 of the 30,485 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (15.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife management areas | 4,487 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 108 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Syre WMA?
In Norman County, near Syre. The DNR's directions: Go 1/2 m. S on SH #32 to the largest sub-unit; then 1/2 m. S on #32 and 1 m. E on a TWP RD to the southeastern sub-unit; from Syre, 1/2 m. W to the northwestern sub-unit.
Which deer permit area is Syre WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 666. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Syre WMA?
4,595 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Syre 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, Syre 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.