"Resident" is any individual who has an established bona fide or actual residence in Oklahoma for a period of not less than sixty (60) consecutive days immediately preceding the date the application for a license, permit, stamp, or any other issue of the Department is submitted. The burden of establishing proof of residency shall be on the person claiming residency status. A person holding a valid driver license or permit to operate a motor vehicle shall be deemed to be a resident of the state issuing the license or permit. For a valid Oklahoma driver license to be used as the sole source of proof of residency, it shall have been issued not less than sixty (60) days prior to submission of the application. If a person does not hold a valid driver license, the Department may consider other reliable documentation for establishing proof of residency including, but not limited to, property tax receipts, resident income tax returns, voter registration, motor vehicle or vessel registrations, and other public records documenting residence. Residency status of children under eighteen (18) years of age is presumed to be that of the custodial parent, including a custodial parent when there is a joint custody order and the physical custody of the child is shared by both parents, or legal guardian unless otherwise documented. Ownership or possession of real property in the state by a person residing outside the state shall not qualify the person as a resident. A person shall not be entitled to claim multiple states of residence, except as follows:

1. A person who is not otherwise a resident of the state and is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States and is on active duty and permanently assigned to a military installation located in the state shall be eligible to qualify as a resident if the person presents with the license application a certificate of assignment in the state from a commanding officer or designated representative. A spouse or dependent of the person who is not otherwise a resident of the state, is living within the same household and is similarly certified by a commanding officer, shall also be eligible to qualify as a resident;

2. The residency of a person shall not terminate upon entering the Armed Forces of the United States. A member of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty, and any dependents of the member, is presumed to retain residency status in the state for purposes of purchasing any annual license issued by the Department of Wildlife Conservation as long as the member is on active duty as verified by valid military documentation; and

3. The residency status of any person, excluding a member of the Armed Forces of the United States while on active duty as verified by valid military documentation and any dependents of the member, shall terminate if the person obtains any resident hunting, fishing, trapping license or permit or valid driver license issued by another state.

Added by Laws 1974, c. 17, § 2-138, emerg. eff. April 8, 1974. Amended by Laws 2007, c. 44, § 1, emerg. eff. April 24, 2007; Laws 2010, c. 317, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Laws 2017, c. 353, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2017; Laws 2018, c. 41, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2018.