If you're Mitt Romney, and you're in Texas, and you've recently endured a slew of embarrassing stories over your claims of being a life-long hunter, what do you do? Have a good laugh at yourself.

Romney, speaking to a Reagan Day Republican fund-raiser in Dallas tonight, recounted for his audience last week's hunting flap, in which he was forced to defend his hunting claim by saying he had shot small rodents at various points in his life.

"I want you to know that those small animals can be ferocious," he said. Then Romney pulled out his "trophy" kill: a toy squirrel mounted on a piece of wood. (The squirrel even squeaked, which Romney said was "the sound I heard just before I let it have it.")

On a roll now, Romney continued the joke by saying how disappointed his grandchildren were this year when the Easter Bunny skipped the Romney household.

"He heard I was packin' heat," Romney said, and the room erupted in hearty laughter.

Thanks to Evangelicals for Mitt.