How to Properly Focus

This sounds simple and basic, but this is probably the one thing that all newcomers get wrong.  Here is the correct process to getting a good focus.

1. Zoom all the way in on your subject (the thing you want to be in focus)
2. Adjust the focus until it looks crisp.  Be sure to have the eyepiece/viewfinder adjusted to your eye first.
3. Zoom out and frame up your shot.  

This is the only method to insuring you have a good focus.  If you try to focus while zoomed out, it will never work.

Tip: If you know your subject (deer, turkey, elk, etc) will be in a certain place when you are filming them, you can focus on the area before they are there and you will be ready ahead of time.  However, you will need to be sure you are on manual focus otherwise when you move the camera, the auto focus will grab something else and change the focus and you just wasted your time.