The angular distribution of neutrons formed in nuclear fusion reactions of a high-energy deuteron beam with a deuterated polyethylene (CD2) was investigated with a Monte Carlo ion beam–target deposition model. The initial conditions were obtained from a two-dimensional particle-in-cell laser–target deposition model. The neutron yield and its angular distribution were studied as a function of peak laser intensity, laser pulse duration and primary target thickness. The proposed scheme for neutron production delivers a typical neutron yield of 10−5–10−3 neutrons/ion and 105–107 neutrons J−1 laser energy.