The 17hmr isn't perfect, but it's very good for a point and shoot solution on small critters out to 150-170y without having to spend time ranging to figure out the drop as with a 22lr, and also no worrying about chasing brass or having to spend the time to reload for the smaller centerfire cartridges like 20VT, 204, 223, etc.
I have a 17hmr that is used for eliminating about 750-1000 ground squirrels per year. I use it in areas where I can't use my centerfires but I also want something a bit more than my PCP air rifle. The PCP air rifle requires very accurate ranging to make hits past 75y or so because of the huge amount of drop, whereas the 17hmr is pretty much point and shoot out to 160-170ish yards being +/- 1 inch from point of aim from 25y to 160y with a 50y zero. While I've successfully hit squirrels out at 200-250 with the 17hmr, that's not typically how I use it, and the ammo inconsistency really shows at those ranges.
Biggest issue with 17hmr in my experience is quality of the ammo. 17hmr ammo typically has a very poor ES/SD and it really shows out at 200-250y. At 150y and in the vertical dispersion from the velocity inconsistency is typically well within the size of the critter you are aiming at; at 150y a 100fps difference from shot to shot is only about 0.4" change in vertical; at 225y that 100fps difference means a 1.5" change in the vertical, which means a miss if you're trying to get a squirrel that's only peeking his head out of the hole at that range.
Also, several times over the last 15ish years of shooting 17hmr I've received ammo batches that develop neck splits after 6+ months on the shelf. It usually manifests as accuracy issues and even worse than usual es/sd, but the split necks will also leave a bullet in the chamber and a "pepper shaker" dumping powder all inside the action if you try and extract an unfired cartridge. Have to be aware of that so you don't stuff another one in with an obstructed barrel.
As long as you are aware of the limitations of the 17hmr it's another good tool to have in the toolbox when it comes to eliminating small critters.