Bark should not be used as a primary indicator due to the huge variability in appearance. If it's summer, look at the leaves. During the winter, look for opposite branching pattern. Note that not all branches will be opposite (some shoots die as a regular course of nature). If there is a good bit of opposite branching on a large tree, the choices are generally maple or ash unless it's something like horse chestnut. Several shrubs also have opposite branching, but it's pretty obvious. A pair of low-power binoculars can help quite a bit.
Ash twigs are much stouter, with large buds. Maple twigs are much finer with slender buds. And yes...all (live) trees have buds even in the winter.
Many oaks and beech trees will have some leaves hanging on in winter (due to incomplete abscission). Maples and ash only rarely hold on to leaves.
If you can see reddish phloem in the bark of a tree that hasn't been cut down, you have x-ray vision.
In large parts of Vermont (especially hilly areas), oaks are not terribly common both due to site and stand management history.
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