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I have the Stevens 200, the previous "budget" rifle from Savage in .308, .270(sons), and .223. All shoot much better than I can. That being said I would opt for the 30-06 if you think you're going to get to CO and hunt elk. Certainly other calibers can and do take elk but for simplicity, availablility of a wide range of bullet weights, and overall versitility I'd give the nod to the 30-06. It will be an all-around rifle for you until you start to specialize.

The only reason I went with a .308 over the 30-06 is the local gun store had a used .308 on the shelf at a price I couldn't pass. I was looking for the Elk to Hogs rifle and the .308 is pretty much a ballistic twin to the 30-06 (common factory ammo).

If you're staying in Texas, the .270 is hard to beat and some say it is an elk cartridge but I can't vouch for that. If ammo were readily available the 25-06 is a nice little round.

I like to try to keep things simple. I do a little reloading but mostly buy factory ammo until I can really get geared up reloading. I literally made my decision on rifle purchases by standing in front of the Academy cartridge display. The 25-06 was an early front runner but I saw only two offerings in that caliber on the shelf. When I saw boxes and boxes of .270, .308, 30-06, the deer rifle decision was made. When I was looking for a coyote rifle...same thing. .223 v. 22-250, what caliber was represented best on the shelf? Now many may not agree with this techinique but it the way I did it.

Realistically, you will shoot a few different types of ammo to sight in and see what flavor you rifle likes. Then you'll shoot a few rounds each year. Unless you are a prolific hunter, one box of shells will probably do you a year. So, if the 7mm-08 is to your liking, get it. Buy a few boxes of shells, get it sighted in and find what it likes and buy up a few boxes of that specific cartridge. Stuff them in the back of the safe and you've got a life-time supply of a cartridge you know works. After that you can experiment with cartridges as they become available on the shelf or you start reloading.

Good luck and enjoy your rifle.