If you want prairie chickens and wood ducks, I would come as early in the season as you can. I would suggest the last weekend in October, pheasant season will be open, and then you can chase some prairie chickens and hopefully, they are not too wild by then, and you also stand a good chance at some good waterfowl hunting as most of the marshes, etc. should still have open water. Check out the game and parks website for hunting dates, etc.
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Homepage