Union Ridge Conservation Area: hunting and access
Union Ridge Conservation Area is 8,353 acres of MDC land in Sullivan, Adair and Putnam counties, next to Green Castle. MDC lists deer hunting here (archery and firearms, 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 areasUnion Ridge Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 8,353 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Sullivan County, Adair County and Putnam County |
| Deer harvest unit | Sullivan County, Adair County, Putnam County |
| MDC lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel, Dove and Quail |
| MDC area number | 8932 |
| 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 Castle (next to it), Green City (3 mi) and Connelsville (6 mi) |
What is Union Ridge Conservation Area like?
Union Ridge Conservation Area is located in Adair, Putnam and Sullivan counties. Bisected by Spring Creek, this 8,262-acre area is a mosaic of woodlands, grasslands, old fields, prairie, savanna, and forest. This conservation area was created in 1989, when the Conservation Department purchased the bulk of the property from Mutual Assurance of New York. The area had mainly been used for cattle ranching and was known as Henley Ranch and later as Spring Creek Ranch.
The area takes its name from a ridge on the northern portion of the area, which was called Union Ridge during the Civil War. There was also an active U.S. Post Office from 1864 to 1884 called Union Ridge. A 1,769-acre portion of the area has been designated as the Spring Creek Ranch Natural Area. This area is being managed to restore prairie and savanna communities. Located in the south-central portion of the area and bisected by Route D, these areas were dominated by fescue when the area was purchased. Through the careful use of prescribed burning, they are being restored to a diverse mix of native grasses and wildflowers. Characteristic species such as big bluestem, little bluestem, pale purple coneflower, prairie clover, and leadplant are now flourishing, increasing the aesthetic appeal and wildlife value of these habitats. Whitetail deer are abundant in Union Ridge Conservation...
In MDC's words, from the Union Ridge Conservation Area page.
What can you hunt on Union Ridge Conservation Area?
MDC's page for Union Ridge Conservation Area lists: Deer: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed; Turkey: archery and firearms; Rabbit; Squirrel; Dove; Quail.
What are the rules on Union Ridge Conservation 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 Union Ridge Conservation Area?
Union Ridge Conservation Area lies in 3 counties. Hunters checked 2,577 deer in Sullivan County in 2025, against 2,737 in 2024.
| County | Union Ridge Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sullivan County | 5,765 | 2,577 | 2,737 | 2,754 |
| Adair County | 2,378 | 2,639 | 2,827 | 2,823 |
| Putnam County | 210 | 2,336 | 2,465 | 2,418 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the conservation area alone: MDC deer harvest summaries (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Union Ridge Conservation Area?
MDC's directions: From Green Castle, take Route D north 2.50 miles.
Nearest towns: Green Castle (next to it), Green City (3 miles), Connelsville (6 miles) and Novinger (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MO 129, MO 6 and MO 149.
What other public land is near Union Ridge Conservation Area?
MDC lands within 10 miles:
- Dark Hollow Natural Area: 315 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Shoemaker Conservation Area: 257 acres, 1 mile away
- Morris Prairie Conservation Area: 521 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Mineral Hills Conservation Area: 2,184 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Sears Community Lake: 87 acres, 7.7 miles away
- Hazel Creek Lake (Kirksville): 484 acres, 9.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Union Ridge Conservation Area
Counting Union Ridge Conservation Area itself, 9,151 of the 66,765 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (13.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| MDC conservation areas | 9,151 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Union Ridge Conservation Area?
In Sullivan, Adair and Putnam counties, next to Green Castle.
Can you deer hunt on Union Ridge Conservation Area?
Yes, by MDC's page: archery and firearms, antlerless permits allowed.
How much public land is around Union Ridge Conservation Area?
9,151 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Union Ridge Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and MDC conservation area boundaries. The closest other MDC area is Dark Hollow Natural 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, Union Ridge Conservation 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.