Outside the Philadelphia metro, Kent leads Delaware's Buck Index at 73, followed by Sussex at 70. Inside the metro, New Castle scores 70 and ranks third. The county order compares documented big-buck history per estimated bow-huntable acre on a national scale. That gives hunters a specific county comparison, while permits and the actual property still need to be checked separately.
KEY FINDINGS
- Outside the Philadelphia metro, Kent leads at 73. Inside the Philadelphia metro, New Castle scores 70. FDR names the leaders on each side of the line, and a big metro means a Census metro area of 1 million people or more.
- Kent leads at 73, followed by Sussex at 70. Sussex and New Castle share a displayed score of 70, and the rank order puts Sussex ahead.
- All three Delaware counties are included. The score is a relative Buck Index, not an official county harvest rate.
- The displayed scores sit within three points. The three counties run from 70 to 73, a displayed spread of three points.
Delaware county finder
Where does your county rank?
Derived FDR scores on a national 0 to 100 scale. History: 2011 through 2025. Captured October 17, 2026. Order uses the underlying rate before rounding. Zero is a valid score. Not rated means the county has no qualifying bow-huntable acreage or is mostly inside city limits. Counties marked metro sit inside a Census metro area of 1 million people or more.
3 of 3 entries shown
| State rank | County | Buck Index |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kent | 73 |
| 2 | Sussex | 70 |
| 3 | New Castle Philadelphia metro | 70 |
01County comparison
Kent leads, with Sussex and New Castle level at 70
Kent holds first place at 73 and Sussex second at 70. New Castle shares a displayed score of 70 with Sussex and holds third place inside the Philadelphia metro. The national scoring frame matters: Kent's 73 sits on a 0 to 100 scale built for the whole country, so the score reads against that wider comparison.
The denominator is estimated bow-huntable acreage. A county with less qualifying acreage can rank high when its documented big-buck history is concentrated relative to that acreage. The score does not identify which parcel produced that history or whether a hunter can gain access to it.
02County comparison
Two counties share 70, and the state tops out at 73
Sussex and New Castle share a displayed score of 70 in second and third place, and the rank order puts Sussex ahead. Kent is the only county above that shared score.
Kent's 73 is three points above the shared score of Sussex and New Castle. A three-point displayed gap is not a measured difference in hunting opportunity.
03County comparison
Delaware's three counties sit within three points
Kent ranks first at 73, while Sussex and New Castle share the 70 that places them second and third.
Kent and Sussex sit outside the Philadelphia metro, and New Castle sits inside it. The metro line only separates the leaders for comparison, and every county is still ranked on the same national scale.
04County comparison
Check the county against season and access rules
The state wildlife agency's deer hunting information supplies the agency context for seasons and rules. This report does not allocate harvest totals to counties. Before a county becomes a trip, check the season and conditions for the exact ground being considered.
The state parks hunting information gives the next step for access. Start with a county you can actually hunt, then compare the substitutes that fit the same trip. Access may make that decision long before the index does.
05Basis of this report
Method and limits of the snapshot
FDR derived this October 17, 2026 snapshot from the 2011 through 2025 history window, estimated bow-huntable acreage and national scaling, 0 to 100, not harvest odds, population density or guaranteed access.
Compare the other states in the FDR county report series.
NOTES AND SOURCES
- Derived FDR scores on a national 0 to 100 scale. History: 2011 through 2025. Captured October 17, 2026. Order uses the underlying rate before rounding. Zero is a valid score. Not rated means the county has no qualifying bow-huntable acreage or is mostly inside city limits. Counties marked metro sit inside a Census metro area of 1 million people or more.
Fully Drawn Research is an independent data analysis desk, not affiliated with any state wildlife agency, transportation agency, mapping provider or outfitter. FDR county scores and interpretations are independent analysis. A county ranking does not evaluate an individual property.
Keep reading
FDR Scout puts county harvest history like this on the map of the ground you hunt. Open Scout →