With Lake Oakland nearby and duck season underway, gun shots aren’t uncommon in the 2000 block of Mann Road.
But for the Eggenberger family of Waterford Township, shots they heard in the early morning, Oct. 9-10, seemed closer than normal ? just across the street in Independence Township.
Oakland County deputies and Waterford Police responded, but didn’t find anything suspicious.
“They told us it was duck season and there was nothing they could do,” said Dawn Eggenberger.
A couple days later, a foul stentch blew in the breeze.
“My husband is in a band ? they were practicing in the garage, Tuesday, and the smell was so bad, one thought he was going to throw up,” she said. “The next day, same thing. Something was dead back there.”
The called police again, and a deputy found the gutted, skinned remains of a deer.
Regular firearms deer season is Nov. 15-30, though archery season started Oct. 1.
State law prohibits shooting guns within 450 feet of an occupied dwelling without written permission of the owner. Independence Township also has an ordinance against shooting guns, except shotguns loaded with birdshot, in the section north of Mann Road.
Even if the shots were legal, they’re still too close, Eggenberger said.
“A bus stop is close by ? it makes me nervous,” she said. “I don’t want anyone shooting here.”
“It makes me scared to go back there to know people are shooting,” said Nick Eggenberger, her son.
They also reported to police close gunshots early in the morning about a month ago.