[bluGill]

If you are recovering down game you should have a gun on you. Sometimes you discover the animal is not dead, just in pain and will die many hours in the future. The ethical thing is to deliver a clean kill - which requires a weapon. Shooting a gun at close range under light is not dangerous. Most uses of a gun at night are stupid and recklessly dangerous, but this is one of the exceptions where it is safe.

Note that the above is at odds with telling if someone is illegally hunting at night. Which is why it is often prohibited.

[BytesAndGears]

> The ethical thing is to deliver a clean kill - which requires a weapon.

Isn’t a knife also well suited to this purpose? Assuming the animal is on the ground and not able to move well. Though I guess it depends how injured they are

[bluGill]

No. An animal is unpredictable and can still kick.

[krisoft]

One could argue that the fact that the animal which you are trying to kill has a chance of hurting you back makes that the only sporting option.