Many have honed their fall turkey hunting skills using a shotgun. And that’s great.
However, a growing number of turkey hunters are stepping out of their comfort zone to hunt turkeys in the fall using a rifle.
Once you have experienced the fall hunt using a rifle, there is a certain satisfaction realized with doing so. My choice of the rifle being used is a CZ American chambered in the .17 Hornady Rimfire Magnum (HMR) topped off with a Hawke Vantage IR 4 x 12 scope.
Hawke Optics is a new name to many. Founded in the United Kingdom over 15 years ago, the company then established U.S. headquarters in 2007. Hawke optics offers an impressive array of optics. What peaked my interest was the number of rifle scopes in their line. But what really caught my eye was that Hawke offered caliber specific scopes, though not too many. However one was shown that held potential that might work well for my specific application on my CZ .17 HMR.
In short order a Hawke Vantage IR was fitted into the scope rings of my rifle. Then it was time to head out to the rifle range. Previously a number of rounds were tested for performance.
Of all the ammunition tested, Remington’s 17 grain V-Max bullet shot was the best.
Zipping downrange at about 2,600 feet per second, Remington’s offering printed three shot groups of about a half inch at 50 yards. The round worked well in my rifle and it satisfied my needs. That was until a 20 grain bullet for the .17 came along.
Three grains difference between the two bullets does not seem like it would make that much difference, but it does. The heavier bullet is sent downrange at 2375 feet per second, a bit slower than the .17 grain offering.
What the heavier bullet gives up in velocity, it gains in flight stability, and downrange energy. From my testing it’s a matter of personal preference.
With a nice day, plenty of time, and a selection of ammunition, it was range time to proof the scope with well-tested ammunition.
In short order the objective lens setting was adjusted to meet the yardage the target was set at. Next the parallax or focus on the scope was adjusted providing a clear and sharp view of the target.
The scope has a 40mm objective lens, which provides great light gathering characteristics. This is especially important when hunting and when light conditions are less that optimal.
The scope’s reticles are fine and black. The vertical crosshair below the center line is divided by dots, with yardages off to the right. The dots provide the suggested holdover.
An added feature is that the dots can be illuminated to be green or red.
The option to change the color of the reticle has a number of advantages, especially when hunting under changing light conditions or varying color of backgrounds.
The crosshair adjustment provided are at ¼ minute of angle, (MOA) increments. This setting is especially important allowing for slight adjustments when fine tuning of the bullets point of impact is required.
What makes this scope so interesting is that the reticle has aim points pre-calculated for the .17 HMR shooting a bullet with a muzzle velocity of 2,550 feet per second. The settings provide a suggested holdover point of aim for yardages beyond a point of impact at 100 yards.
The scale is great. However keep in mind that regardless of the ammunition chosen and bullet weight selected, the holdovers are suggested. Pinpoint accuracy does not happen from guessing. When changing ammunition, either from one manufacturer to another or bullet weight, the round and point of impact needs to be proven on paper at the range. Keep in mind the suggested holdover points provide a great starting point.
Investing time on the range has proved to be interesting. First the .17 HMR shot from a quality firearm is insanely accurate. That’s the good news.
On the other end of the spectrum is that the light bullet can be adversely affected by the wind. So choose your shot wisely when conditions warrant.
The .17 HMR has almost something for everyone. Between ammunition available and at least four different types of bullets to choose from, it is possible to match the right round for the game to be hunted. The plain hard truth of the matter is shot placement is the key, regardless of the game being pursued, and especially when hunting turkeys.
At first it seemed like hunting turkeys with a .17 HMR rimfire would find me under gunned. However after taking a number of fall turkeys without a loss, my perspective on the subject changed.
For those who decide to hunt turkeys in the fall using a rifle, a lot of thought needs to be applied to the hunt.
As a young hunter an old time turkey hunter took me under his wing. Henry Black was his name. “Hen” as everyone knew him by, had a hunting camp down the road from ours.
Seldom did a fall or spring season go by that a wild turkey could be seen hanging from the deer pole back of his camp.
We never hunted together, guess he was a loner, but we sure did talk about hunting turkeys.
One day we sat on the front porch of his “lodge” as he like to call it, and he confided in me. The discussion was on the manner in which he hunted and the ways he consistently brought birds back to camp.
If “Hen” Black was willing to talk, I was eager to listen and learn. He said assuring me, “First of all, it’s OK to use a rifle. Sure it’s fun to break up a flock of birds then call them into close range, then take’m with a shotgun.”
“Hen” went on to say, “I like to use a rifle. It’s fun to locate birds then with a single accurate shot send a bullet out and cleanly take a bird. Nope, there’s nothing wrong in my book when hunting like that.”
“Body shoot’m and you don’t have much left. Take your time and place the shot and you’ll be proud of your accomplishment,” was his advice.
But what constitutes a “well placed” shot when hunting turkeys with a rifle?
Turkeys can be tough to take when using a rifle and a light caliber rifle at that. Besides, you have only a single projectile to take the bird, which is in direct contrast to taking a shot using a tight shooting shotgun.
My turkey hunting mentor went on to say, “Shot placement is important. When a bird is facing you, the bullet should be placed just below the area of where the beard would be on a tom or in the same general area on a hen. Think of the target area being where the neck begins to widen and flow into the body. When possible, the bullet’s path should intersect with the bird’s backbone.”
The next piece of advice he shared, “With birds offering a broadside shot, shoot for the wing butt. If the bird presents you with a shot into its back, line up the sights with the horizontal crosshairs at the wing butt and the vertical hair dissecting the bird through the middle. When shot in these locations, little if any meat will be spoiled, and in most cases they go down on the spot.”
The advice “Hen” provided was taken seriously, and since 2002 when the .17 HMR was introduced, a number of fall birds have returned from the field wearing my tag.
The birds that come home or back to camp with me are skinned. The process is quick and easy. At the same time the bird can be easily examined.
Early on it was amazing to see how effective the little 17-grain bullets have performed. Now, using the slightly heavier 20 grain bullets they are performing the same task equally as well.
When using a small caliber rifle, or any caliber rifle for that matter, shots should not be taken to penetrate brush. Besides being unsafe, a small, light bullet hitting any obstruction, no matter how small, will quickly send a light bullet away from its mark.
Hunting turkeys using a rifle requires practice and discipline coupled with a good dose of patience.
Some will no doubt disagree and say that using a .17 rimfire is too light for turkeys. Just try and explain that one to ole “Hen” Black, not to mention more than a few turkeys that have visited our freezer.
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Charlie Burchfield is an active member and past president of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, an active member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association, Outdoor Writers Assoc. of America and the Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers. Gateway Outdoors e-mail is GWOutdoors@comcast.net
