Dark Hollow Natural Area: hunting and access
Dark Hollow Natural Area is 315 acres of MDC land in Sullivan County, 4 miles from Green City. MDC lists deer hunting here (muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed). Hunters checked 2,577 deer in Sullivan County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: MDC's conservation area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: MDC deer harvest summaries, 2021 to 2025.
MDC conservation areasDark Hollow Natural AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 315 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Sullivan County |
| Deer harvest unit | Sullivan County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey and Squirrel |
| MDC area number | 9333 |
| MDC region | Northeast |
| Camping (MDC) | walk-in, float-in or backpack camping (not during deer and turkey seasons) and designated camping sites |
| Nearest towns | Green City (4 mi), Green Castle (5 mi) and Pollock (8 mi) |
What is Dark Hollow Natural Area like?
This 315-acre area was purchased mostly in 1993 and designated a Natural Area in recognition of its diverse, old growth forest. Visitors to the area will notice a tremendous diversity of tree species such as red oak, basswood, sugar maple, and white oak to name a few. The forest also supports numerous wildflowers, including bloodroot, dutchman's breeches, liverleaf, and wild geranium.
The southern third of the area is being restored to a savanna-woodland unit. A combination of prescribed burning and mechanical thinning will be used to develop and maintain these diverse open and semi-open habitats. The area also supports various woodland bird species and small mammals. Even though this is a Natural Area, it is open understatewide regulations exceptthat it is prohibited to take wild greens and special deer regulations apply to this area.Reference the fall deer and turkey hunting regulations pamphlet for specific regulations.
In MDC's words, from the Dark Hollow Natural Area page.
What can you hunt on Dark Hollow Natural Area?
MDC's page for Dark Hollow Natural Area lists: Deer: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Squirrel.
What are the rules on Dark Hollow Natural Area?
MDC's standard conservation area rules (Chapter 11 of the Wildlife Code) apply; the area's rules on MDC's site list any it adds.
How many deer are taken around Dark Hollow Natural Area?
Dark Hollow Natural Area lies in Sullivan County. Hunters checked 2,577 deer in Sullivan County in 2025, against 2,737 in 2024.
| County | Dark Hollow Natural Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sullivan County | 315 | 2,577 | 2,737 | 2,754 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Dark Hollow Natural Area?
MDC's directions: From Green City, take Highway 129 north 1.25 miles, then take Hedge Drive north 2.10 miles.
Nearest towns: Green City (4 miles), Green Castle (5 miles), Pollock (8 miles) and Unionville (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 129 and MO 6.
What other public land is near Dark Hollow Natural Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Union Ridge Conservation Area: 8,353 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Morris Prairie Conservation Area: 521 acres, 3 miles away
- Mineral Hills Conservation Area: 2,184 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Shoemaker Conservation Area: 257 acres, 6.4 miles away
- Sears Community Lake: 87 acres, 7.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Dark Hollow Natural Area
Counting Dark Hollow Natural Area itself, 4,389 of the 24,219 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (18.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 4,389 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Dark Hollow Natural Area?
In Sullivan County, 4 miles from Green City.
Can you deer hunt on Dark Hollow Natural Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: muzzleloader and archery, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Dark Hollow Natural Area?
4,389 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Dark Hollow Natural Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Union Ridge Conservation Area (0.5 miles).
Get a Missouri hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Missouri are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Missouri included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: MDC, Dark Hollow Natural Area; MDC conservation area boundaries.
- Boundary and acres: MDC's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and MDC conservation area boundaries.
- Deer harvest: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
FilledTag is not part of the Missouri Department of Conservation. Check MDC's rules and posted signs before you go.