Has anyone ever used a .17 HMR on turkey? I work with a guy who swears by it, but after seeing how explosive the round is on squirrels I wonder if there will beenough penetration for a humane kill on a gobbler.

better check your regs. In most states its illegal to use a rifle on turkeys.

It is legal in Texas to use a rifle. I have a coworked that uses nothing but a .17. He claims that to keep it a challenge he takes only head shots. He and I don't see eye to eye on a lot of things and this is one of them. The shots he takes could be out as far as 150 yds. To me that negates the thrill of turkey hunting. I enjoy calling them in as close as I can get them. He doesn't even use calls. Spot and shoot is his preferred method. To each his own I guess but I won't be doing it myself.

I know a guy that swears by them. Illegal here in Missouri.
I'd still use a shotgun/bow even if we could use rifles.

Illegal in NC, get'em close with the scattergun!

It's totally legal to use a rifle here in Florida. Where I hunt 40 yards is a long shot because of how thick the brush is and the .17 would actually be a handicap. The little v-max bullet doesn't like palmettos.

Sound as fun as shooting geese from the truck window! Yeee- Haaaawww!

Using a rifle to kill a turkey should be illegal around the entire US. There is no challenge to shooting one with a rifle.

Also illegal in Kentucky. I don't see the fun in taking a turkey at long distances myself.

Where I hunt you have to get them close regardless of the weapon you have because of the brush, you'd actually have less opportunities to shoot with the rifle and head shotswould probablybe necessary. What I'm asking is if the .17 HMR has enough power to penetrate and be humane on a turkey. I agree that setting up on a dirt road or a long field and sniping them would be wrong.