LANSING — Say you’re a grandparent, and one of your grandkids has a birthday coming up. Little Jack or Jill is showing an appreciation for the outdoors, and you want to get him or her a gift to foster that appreciation — say a hunting or fishing license.

There’s only one catch: to receive a license, the user must be present at the purchase.

 If a pending Senate bill passes, you could buy a gift certificate from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that your budding conservationist could redeem for a license.

“It adds a level of convenience for individuals who are trying to find that perfect gift for that person that wants to be more engaged in the outdoors,” said Jason Dinsmore, a resource policy specialist for Michigan United Conservation Clubs.

Currently, the DNR offers gift certificates online that can be used for motor vehicle permits, camping and mooring fees, and for other merchandise sold at state parks, recreation areas and harbors. The department has sold 1,102 certificates since the program began in December 2006, bringing in a total of $27,550.

The bill would expand those options to include fees for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, off-road vehicle use and camping in state forests.

Rodney Stokes, legislative liaison for the DNR, said revenue from gift certificate purchases would go toward services related to those fees. For instance, park camping fees would go toward the department’s park improvement fund.

“We have separate accounts for each one of these, so any individual who’s buying something and wants to support a particular program would be guaranteed that that money is going to support the program,” he said.

Dinsmore said the certificate program could be a boon to the DNR in the face of the state budget crisis.

“The department is increasingly under the burden of licensing and license sales, and with increasing cuts in general fund support going to the department, it’s always important to make sure you have an active public that’s using those recreational properties and using those recreational licenses,” he said.

Similar gift certificate programs operate in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, said Veronica LaDuke, communications director for the primary sponsor, Sen. Michelle McManus, R-Lake Leelanau.

Since 1999, the Ohio DNR has offered gift certificates redeemable for any license or permit available through its wildlife division.

However, Michelle Jones, a public inquiry officer for the department, said the program hasn’t caught on, even during the December holiday season, despite promotional efforts.

“The Christmas time of year falls after the hunting seasons,” she said. “Most people rush out early in the season — the middle of February when licenses become available — just to get their own license.” 

Between 900 and 950 DNR gift certificates are sold in Ohio annually, while 2 million traditional licenses and permits are sold.

Meanwhile, certificates for Michigan state park, recreation area and harbor fees are available for $25 online at the Michigan e-Store at www.mi-mall.michigan.gov.

Stokes said prices for the proposed certificates would vary by option, costing the same as the fees for those options.