National Rattlesnake
Sacking Championship

Snake Sacking Video
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It's rattlesnake sacking time in Taylor again.  The Taylor Jaycees present the 38th Annual National Rattlesnake Sacking Championship on May 8 and May 9, 2010. This year’s event will be held at Murphy Park in Taylor, TX. The show will start at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $6 for adults (12 and up), $3 for children 6-12 (with paid adult), and 5 & under are free. In addition to the show, we will have food, arts and crafts, a petting zoo for the kids, and a carnival. In between sacking rounds we will have live safety demonstrations in addition to daredevil stunts. We invite everyone to come out and have a good time, enjoy the show and maybe learn a few things that you didn't know about rattlesnakes.

The object in rattlesnake sacking is to sack 10 live rattlesnakes into a burlap sack in the least time possible.  Before you ask, Yes, the snakes are not tame, still have fangs and their venom sacks, and have not been altered in any way. The Catcher has a tool called a pinner consisting of a rod at least 24" long with a hook on the end.  The catcher must first immobilize the head of the snake with the pinner. He then places the snake in the sack.  The Sacker is literally left "holding the bag". His job is to hold the sack in a position to allow the Catcher to quickly toss the snakes into the bag without allowing the others to escape or bite him in the process.  The best time from two out of three rounds monitored by three judges determine the winner.  The judges not only keep time and compare afterwards, but monitor any scooping, lack of pinning, and bites (which there is a five second penalty for being bit). Any intentional harm to the snakes results in immediate disqualification. Click on the picture to the left to see how rattlesnake sacking is done.

For more information, call Shawn Jonas at (512) 803-5855. Arts & Crafts vendors can download an invitation letter and application or contact Gem Naivar at (512) 275-6196. If interested in becoming a food vendor, please contact Shawn Jonas at (512) 803-5855.