One person died in an exchange of fire between two groups inside the Mundrote forest range in Kodagu district, close to the Karnataka-Kerala border.
The victim was identified as George, 50, a native of Taliparamba in the neighbouring State of Kerala, and though the incident is suspected to have taken place on Tuesday evening, it came to light only on Wednesday.
The jurisdictional Bhagamandala police, which is investigating the case, said the details are still sketchy, but George may have been killed in a feud between two groups of suspected poachers. Though the motive is yet to be established, the police suspect rivalry between the groups may have led to the skirmish.
However, the identity of the gang which opened fire that resulted in George being killed was yet to be established, said the police.