With thoughts of bear hunting next year I'm considering building some permanent treestands over baitsites. I've got a general idea how I'd like to build it but never having done this before is it just as simple as slapping some 2x4's and plywood between 2-3 trees? I want to build a stand / shooting platform as my baiting area will be 4-5hrs from home, and I don't want to run the risk of having a boughten stand swiped. Any suggestions?
I don't think I can recommend building a tree stand. When the wind blows it will move the wood joints. Also the wood needs to get some age so it is not abvious to the bear. But when it gets older, the wood gets weaker and may break with your weight. Here in Arkansas we like to use climbers. They work good. We don't use wooden ones at all. Just not safe.
if you're going to build one i would recommend using pressure treated wood, plenty of 2x4's, and screws not nails.
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If you can't beat them, join them... then once you lure them into a false sense of security, jump on their back and beat them to a bloody pulp.
if you are going to build one i would first look at the cost of that comparied to a climber
1 i use a climber and it works great!
2. the wind? will u always be in the right spot for the wind direction?
3. maybe u will need higher one day because bears are getting skidish?
4. a climber u could use somewher else, not just have to leave it in one spot!
is this stand on your land or public lands?
if on public lands i would check local regualtions on what they allow,
some states dont allow custom stands, or homemade platforms,
also some states have regs on leaving stands on public land,
overall i would reccommend a climbing stand, for the reasons others stated, and for safety,
homemade stands are more prone to fail,
Rebel, still in the planning stages there will be a couple of us involved so between us we should be able to rebait 1 a week until its close to hunting time, then it'll be looked after every day for a couple of weeks.
I have always thought that the first day you sit in the tree the bears know you are there, it is just a matter of them getting use to you. They are smart critters I have heard them for days making lite growling noises in the thickets before coming in to the bait. Tis is the one I took last year and I am going back in Sept.
Treestands?
just like everything else on your page.. 
