LEV194 Man's need to use animals must be a legitimate and not a frivolous one. Thus, hunting for sport is not considered legitimate (Responsa of Noda B'Yehudah, Yoreh De'ah 10) and is not only discouraged in the Talmud, but is also prohibited in Jewish law (Avodah Zarah 18b). In fact, the two people depicted in the Torah as hunters, both Nimrod (Gen. 10:9) and Esau (Gen 25:27), are clearly characterized as evil. Yet, in another place, the Torah seems to permit hunting, using the word yatzud [this verse], the Hebrew term for hunting. Upon further investigation, however, it is clear that the Torah's permission to hunt is referring only to the capture of kosher meat for eating. The method the Torah speaks about, although similar to the general term for hunting, signifies in this case trapping with nets to capture the food, thereby minimizing pain to the animal (Mishnah, Betzah 3:1-2).