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WMA in Norman County
Hunting Cupido Wildlife Management Area, Minnesota public land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this wildlife management area in Norman County, 1,197 acres.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Cupido Wildlife Management Area
Cupido WMA at a glance for hunters
You get 1,197 acres at Cupido WMA, which lies in Norman County. By size it ranks 4th of the 15 wildlife management areas we list in Norman County. DPA 666 sets the deer limit here: either-sex this year.
The managing office is Detroit Lakes (DNR Wildlife), detroitlakes.wildlife@state.mn.us. DNR lists Pittman-Robertson as the federal aid source for Cupido WMA.
What the DNR page says about it: The Neal WMA to the north and the Twin Valley WMA to the east adjoin this unit offering users additional wildlife opportunities.
Listed game: deer, small game.
From the agency record (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Cupido Wildlife Management Area
What is allowed on Cupido WMA
Short version of the rules that apply on Cupido WMA, taken from the managing agency.
| What | Rule here |
|---|---|
| Hunting, trapping | Regular seasons |
| Vehicles | Designated roads, lots |
| Target shooting | Not allowed |
| Guns in transit | Cased, unloaded |
| Camping | Designated or permit |
| Portable stands, blinds | Remove daily |
| Overnight stands, northwest | Nov 1-Dec 31 |
| Dogs | Leash Apr 16-Jul 14 |
| Drones | Not allowed |
| Gear left overnight | Not allowed |
Sources: record, agency rules; booklet: 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked October 28, 2026.
Deer on Cupido WMA in 2026-27
Deer on Cupido WMA fall under DPA 666: either-sex, 600 series. No lottery in DPA 666: either sex on the regular license.
| Deer window | From | To | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Youth deer | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Firearms, 200 series | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 |
DPA 666 falls within the CWD management zone. DNR enforces a carcass disposal rule here. DPA 666 spans 625 square miles. DPA 666 reaches Clay, Becker and Norman counties.
From the DNR 2026 deer season map and the 2026-2027 regulations booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
Cupido WMA hunting calendar 2026-27
Cupido WMA season dates for 2026-27, picked by its game species list and its deer permit area.
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | DPA 666 | Sep 19, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Youth deer | DPA 666 | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Firearms, 200 series | DPA 666 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Ruffed, spruce grouse | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Rabbits, hares | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Jackrabbit | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Regular | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Crow | Crow segment | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Take-a-Kid | Take-a-Kid | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Raccoon, foxes | Hunting (north) | North furbearer zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Badger, opossum, weasels | Hunting (north) | North furbearer zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Raccoon, foxes | Hunting (south) | South furbearer zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Badger, opossum, weasels | Hunting (south) | South furbearer zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunt and trap (north) | North furbearer zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Crow | Crow segment | Statewide | Dec 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunt and trap (south) | South furbearer zone | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Crow | Crow segment | Statewide | Mar 1, 2027 | Mar 31, 2027 |
Furbearer rows list both zones: the line follows I-94 and US 10, so check which side of it you hunt.
From the 2026-2027 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources); checked October 28, 2026. All Minnesota seasons.
Cupido WMA: access points
0 parking points and the route text DNR posts for Cupido WMA.
| Subunit | Acres | Nearest town | Hunting | Parking | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cupido WMA | 1,197 | Syre | Open | – | DNR |
- 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.
DNR WMA detail pages (Compass feature records); checked October 28, 2026.
Public land within a drive of Cupido WMA
When Cupido WMA is crowded, Twin Valley WMA sits 1.6 mi away to the east.
| Place | Type | Acres | DPA | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Valley WMA | WMA | 1,628 | 666 | 1.6 mi | east |
| Neal WMA | WMA | 1,852 | 666 | 1.8 mi | north |
| Dalby WMA | WMA | 117 | 666 | 3.3 mi | northwest |
| Syre WMA | WMA | 510 | 666 | 3.6 mi | east |
| Ulen WMA | WMA | 480 | 666 | 5.5 mi | south |
| Rockwell WMA | WMA | 210 | 666 | 5.9 mi | north |
| Vangsness WMA | WMA | 325 | 666 | 6.2 mi | northeast |
| Felton Prairie SNA | SNA | 1,350 | 666 | 6.2 mi | southwest |
Points: DNR WMA detail page map point (Compass feature_detail). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Cupido WMA nearest towns and help
Fuel and food: Ulen lies 7.0 mi from Cupido WMA. For more services, Ada (1,696) is 13 mi out. DNR's nearest town for this unit: Syre. Nearest DNR desk: Detroit Lakes Area Wildlife Office, 34 mi.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulen | Clay | 472 | 7.0 mi | southeast |
| Twin Valley | Norman | 697 | 7.3 mi | northeast |
| Borup | Norman | 93 | 8.2 mi | west |
| Felton | Clay | 169 | 10 mi | southwest |
| Ada | Norman | 1,696 | 13 mi | northwest |
Towns from the 2024 Census gazetteer and population estimates; offices and businesses from services.json (DNR and business listings, chain stores and license agents left out); straight-line miles. Checked October 28, 2026.
Cupido WMA and the rest of Norman County
Norman County has 23 public hunting areas on file, Cupido WMA among them. Norman County is under the deer feeding and attractant ban. Norman County lies in the bear no-quota area. The county sits in turkey permit area 509. Nearest DNR area wildlife office to the county centre: Detroit Lakes Area Wildlife Office, (218) 846-8470. Not every public place in Norman County is open: Agassiz Dunes Scientific and Natural Area is closed to hunting.
County acres from DNR and federal GIS layers (counties.json); zones from the 2026-2027 booklet; checked October 28, 2026.
When shooting starts and stops at Cupido WMA
Sun times computed for Cupido WMA itself, since the 2026 booklet prints no tables.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal from | Big game to | Waterfowl to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Archery and grouse opener | 7:06 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:16 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 7:18 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Pheasant opener | 7:35 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:50 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Firearms deer opener | 7:16 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. | 5:32 p.m. | 5:02 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Muzzleloader opener | 7:47 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 4:41 p.m. |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Archery close | 8:12 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 7:42 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 4:44 p.m. |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:41 a.m. | 8:11 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. | 8:41 p.m. | 8:11 p.m. |
Pheasant hours start at 9 a.m.
Hours rule from the DNR booklet shooting hours page; sun times calculated for the unit point (NOAA method, Central Time); checked October 28, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Ranges a Cupido Wildlife Management Area hunter can reach
From Cupido Wildlife Management Area, the nearest listed range is Wild Rice Conservation Club at 7 miles; public ranges on file are over 60 miles away. Plinking on the property is not allowed.
From the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 28, 2026; target shooting rule from the DNR WMA rules.
Cupido WMA region in a few frames
Hunter questions about Cupido WMA, short answers
Cupido WMA neighbors: what public land is nearby?
Short-drive options from the map: Twin Valley WMA (1.6 mi), Neal WMA (1.8 mi) and Dalby WMA (3.3 mi).
On the deer opener, when can you shoot at Cupido WMA?
Deer shooting on Nov. 7 opens at 6:46 a.m. and ends at 5:32 p.m. at the Cupido WMA point.
Can hunters set up a tent camp on Cupido WMA?
Only at designated sites or by permit.
Can blinds stay up overnight at Cupido WMA?
Only for the day: WMA rules make you remove portable stands and blinds daily, outside the northwest Nov. 1-Dec. 31 exception.
Cupido WMA acreage: how much ground is it?
It runs to 1,197 acres.
Does Cupido WMA allow public hunting?
It is open: DNR lists every subunit of Cupido WMA with an open or partial hunting status.
What game species does Cupido WMA list?
The agency names deer and small game for Cupido WMA.
What deer permit area is Cupido WMA in?
The record puts it in DPA 666: either-sex. Its firearms season: Nov 7 to Nov 15, 2026.
Cupido WMA: who is the land manager?
Questions about Cupido WMA go to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at its Detroit Lakes office.
How do you get to Cupido WMA?
From Syre, go 3 m. W on CO RD #39. 0 parking spots on the DNR map.
Cupido WMA and CWD: what applies?
For CWD, DPA 666 is in the CWD management zone.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0).