The Bury striker, a firm favourite with the fans, if not always first choice for manager Alan Knill, rammed home his point by making it four goals in four games.
But it was big defender Ben Futcher who gave the Shakers a dream start in the second minute, with a striker's finish to a well-worked goal. He was in the box following a Bury corner, and when Stephen Dawson's cross was flicked on by Hurst, he controlled and carefully side-footed his shot past Joe Anyon in the Vale goal.
Ten minutes later Bury were two goals to the good - and it was a goal of the very highest quality.
On-loan Wolves winger Elliott Bennett led the charge as a Vale corner was cleared, haring down the left flank. He checked, and delivered an arrowing pass to the edge of the box, where Andy Bishop's brilliant cushioned chest-down fell perfectly for Hurst.
He took the ball in his stride and lifted a shot over the advancing Anyon.
With Vale crumbling under a fierce onslaught, led by Bishop, it was a question of how many Bury could rack up, but they managed just one more, in first half injury time, as Hurst pounced when the visitors failed to clear a corner.
Bishop forced two great saves from Anyon after the break, and Bennett almost scored a wonder goal after an outrageous, volleyed flick over the full back's head, followed by a shot which was cleared off the line.
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