The Steve Austin Show

Episode: The Antelope Hunt with Mitch Bailey - SAS CLASSIC
Date: October 14, 2025
Host: Steve Austin
Guest: Mitch Bailey (Nevada Hunting Services)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Steve Austin Show is a lively recounting of Steve's first-ever antelope hunt through the rugged Nevada wilderness, alongside his brother-in-law, hunting guide Mitch Bailey. The two dive deep into the art, challenge, humor, and camaraderie of western big game hunting, the critical role of wildlife management, and mishaps and memorable moments encountered in the field. Fans of the outdoors, hunting stories, off-road adventure, and classic Steve Austin banter will find plenty to enjoy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Labor Day, Home Life & Pre-Hunt Setup

• Steve opens from his home in Nevada, playfully involving his wife, their dogs, and talking about post-hunt Labor Day plans.
• Food and drinks are a running theme, with Steve waxing poetic about hot dogs, chili, margaritas, and snack choices during the hunt (“There must be a frog's hair, crack cocaine in those son bitches, because once you start eating them, you cannot stop.” – Steve, 04:33).
• Discussion on how hunting season alters routines: increased whiskey, margaritas, and “junk food” become part of the diet during camps and hunts.

2. The Antelope Hunt – Preparation, Mishaps, and Lessons Learned

Preparation:

• Steve recounts the four years of trying for an antelope tag before Mitch’s connections finally secured a landowner tag (12:00).
• Sighting in rifles at the range, accidentally leaving his prized 7mm magnum rifle behind—only to have it safely turned in at the sheriff’s office.

  “It’d be like driving my car to the car wash, washing my car, and walking home.” – Steve (14:23)

Hunting Antelope:

• The hunt takes place outside Sparks, NV, covering 30-50 miles per day on four-wheelers in challenging terrain—powdery dirt, rocks, and sparse cover.
• Mitch explains why antelope hunts are special:

  “They’re probably, in my opinion and a lot of my friends that have hunted them their whole lives, the best eating of all the big game animals… but… their speed and eyesight—good luck getting close.” – Mitch (20:02)

• Discussion of antelope eyesight:

  “They got like eight power eyes… At a mile, they’re looking at you pretty much like you’re right in front of them.” – Mitch (21:17)

Spot and Stalk Challenges:

• The intricacies of “cat-and-mouse” with antelope—how attempts to close the distance get instantly countered.

  “Seemed like every time we was looking at them, they was looking at us for sure.” – Steve (22:13)

• Humor in trying to spot and glass animals:

  “You and Casey got a good chemistry… he does it a lot better with me than I do with him because his eyes are incredible.” – Mitch (24:41)

3. Antelope Biology, Conservation, & Hunting Ethics

• Steve and Mitch discuss antelope population recovery due to conservation, now estimated over 700,000.
• Importance of wildlife management quotas and the science behind buck-to-doe ratios.

  “Nevada is one of the best managed wildlife agencies in the country.” – Mitch (28:48)

• Addressing anti-hunting sentiment and ethics: all usable meat is consumed, and hunters are the backbone of conservation.

  “If people that don’t believe that [conservation] works, just look at history and see how close to extinction some… species were.” – Mitch (30:00)

4. Hunt Tactics & Protocol

Tactics:

• Mostly spot-and-stalk—using vehicles to initially cover vast areas, then stalking on foot using minimal cover.
• Extreme distances and terrain require both skill and physical preparation.
• The rut means bucks are preoccupied, sometimes making them more vulnerable to hunters.

Field Etiquette:

• Open talk about hunting etiquette in public land scenarios and dealing with other hunters.

  “If you’re on a road and you’re hunting, expect to get passed… but not everybody follows [the rules]. I’ll avoid an altercation at any time…” – Mitch (38:35)

5. Camp Life: Food, Stories & Mishaps

• Legendary storytelling about sharing food in the field: the “pickled eggs protocol”—an extended gag on the correct way to share a jar of pickled eggs with hunting partners.

  “There is no way this is humanly possible… Somebody with the size of your hands trying to get your big ass hand inside the pickle jar to get an egg…” – Mitch (53:13)

• Lessons learned in packing gear for long rides (plug kits, compressors, tools, food).
• The dust, technical riding, and hazards of Nevada four-wheeling are detailed with comic flair.

6. The Kill: Climax of the Hunt

• On the third day, during the rut, the group comes upon a distracted, battle-scarred buck antelope—close range due to breeding fervor.

  “I start clawing at everything… bungee cords, my gloves, everything… the buck is still sitting there just looking at me…” – Steve (59:10)

• Steve successfully harvests his first antelope, and the group quarters the animal, making sure nothing goes to waste.

  “What a great finish to a great hunt, man… nice clean harvest of an animal. Quartered them all up, bagged them all up, got them cooled down… memories made to last a lifetime.” – Mitch (61:14)

• Reminders about the importance of marksmanship, safety, and respect for the game.

7. Wrapping Up: What’s Next?

• Mitch previews upcoming hunts: bear and deer seasons, and how the guiding business operates through the year.
• Discussion of mountain lion hunting and eating (lion is a hit at his wild game cookouts).
• Mitch plugs his operation: Nevada Hunting Services (nvhuntingservices.com, Facebook, Instagram).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Antelope Eyesight:
  “At a mile, they're looking at you pretty much like you're right in front of them.”
  – Mitch Bailey, 21:17

• On Pickled Egg Protocol:
  “Somebody with the size of your hands trying to get your big ass hand inside the pickle jar to get an egg… cleaning your hands basically in the pickle juice…”
  – Mitch Bailey, 53:13

• On Hunting Ethics and Management:
  “For those people who want to go out and look at the animals and don’t want to hunt them, they can thank the hunters and the conservation group for putting it together for them.”
  – Mitch Bailey, 30:00

• On Celebration and Preparation:
  “If I’m going to take anything I don’t want it to suffer. So I want to do my part. I want to do my due diligence as far as being up to speed with shooting… I am a proud hunter, and I’m going to eat every single bit of that thing.”
  – Steve Austin, 61:42

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:43] – [03:00]: Holiday chat, food, lifestyle, setting the scene
• [11:16] – [14:40]: The lost rifle story and miraculous recovery
• [20:00] – [22:10]: Why antelope are such a thrilling challenge to hunt
• [25:28] – [29:32]: Segment on antelope biology, conservation, and hunting quotas
• [32:27] – [34:25]: In-depth on spot-and-stalk tactics, failed stalk story
• [35:02] – [39:39]: Crazy stories from guiding hunts, etiquette on public lands, and altercations
• [53:00] – [54:40]: The "pickled eggs protocol" story
• [56:41] – [61:42]: The successful hunt and shot on a rutting buck antelope
• [62:17] – [64:38]: Mitch’s future hunts, cooking mountain lion, ways to connect on social media

Conclusion

This episode blends classic Steve Austin storytelling with expert insight from a lifelong Nevada guide, offering laughs, hard-earned wisdom, and a real glimpse into the camaraderie and adventure of big game hunting in the American West. Whether you’re a hunter, an outdoors enthusiast, or simply a fan of good stories, it’s a memorable ride.

Guest Links:

• Facebook: Nevada Hunting Services
• Instagram: @nvhuntingservices
• Website: nvhuntingservices.com

Memorable Send-off:

“Man, it was a great, enjoyed being in the outdoors and it was a successful trip and I had an absolute blast… And that’s the bottom line.”
– Steve Austin, 65:13