http://thegoat.backcountry.com/2012/09/10/hiker-in-the-great-smoky-mountains-reports-being-shot/ If you read the link posted in the story another link says the occurrence was well off established trails. Since second link says it occurred in Cosby and Cocke County Sheriff is investigating, I'm betting it has to do with marijuana. Cocke County is notorious for growing marijuana and distilling moonshine.
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It is one of the blessings of wilderness life that it shows us how few things we need in order to be perfectly happy.-- Horace Kephart