Easy way to tell ash if there's no leaves is to look at the limbs. Ash had opposing limbs, meaning if a limb is growing off one side, there will be one on the other mirroring it (or in absence of a limb, a knot). Even if it is ash, it's still a good bow wood, and maybe a little easier to work with. You can use the ring right under the bark, no reason to chase one. Makes a good shooter too, from what I've heard.