West is executive vice president-fuels and chief financial officer at Murphy USA as well as a member of the board of directors at Simmons Bank and Simmons First National Corporation. She began hunting to keep up with her future husband, but also fell in love with the sport.
Number of days you hunt a season? Fifteen
Where do you hunt? Mostly at my rice farm near Brinkley, but also north Louisiana, around Stuttgart and even as far as Canada, Argentina and New Zealand
Club name? Mill Lake Duck Club in Fargo (Arkansas)
What kind of gun do you use? Benelli M1 20-gauge
Favorite duck call? Blue Cat made by Drew Hobbs in El Dorado, Echo and RNT
Fields, reservoir or timber? Fields are fantastic but timber is magic
Rainy, nasty or bluebird sky? Bluebird sky — sun, shadows and wind are your friends
Favorite hunting story/memory? I could write a book there are so many, but most center around some unusual event like a moose running through the field during the hunt, outboards freezing up and leaving us stranded and countless harrowing boat rides. My husband and I train our own retrievers and it’s also really special to take a puppy on his first hunt and watch him watch the birds and figure it all out.
What got you into hunting? My husband, Keith, who is a lifelong and very dedicated waterfowl hunter. While dating him in college I quickly realized I would not see him November through January unless I went with him. So I did.
What is your most unusual “must have” in the duck blind? Diet coke and hand warmers are my necessities of life in the duck blind.
Where is your go-to spot for breakfast/meals on a hunting weekend? I usually skip breakfast, but enjoy the local Delta hangouts for lunch and dinner such as the Tamale Factory in Gregory, Mike’s in Colt, Craig’s in DeValls Bluff and The Crazy Donkey in Palestine.
Which Arkansas executive calls ducks the best? I don’t know but it is definitely not me. While I am a passable goose caller, my duck calling still sounds mostly like a kazoo.
