The tag mask validation process described in the June 2014 newsletter was implemented on August 20. Any mark, recapture, or recovery records with a tag code that does not match the list of known tag masks, or is a registered test/timer tag, is no longer available through the reporting system. You can view these records using the QA/QC report Unknown Tag Mask Summary, which can be found in Advanced Reporting-Standard Reports-QA/QC.
When a tag file is submitted with a tag code that is not on the list of known tag masks, or is a registered test/timer tag, the data submitter will receive a notification email similar to when a duplicate record is submitted. A tag may be described with the following terms:
Test = tag is a registered test tag
Timer = tag is a timer tag
Unknown = tag has a tag mask that is not known to be in use in the Columbia Basin
You can find the list of known tag masks on the Current Validation Codes page.