Hurst figured as Steve Scoffham's strike partner at Torquay on the season's opening day but had not been included in the starting line up since while manager Gudjon Thordarson experimented with other frontmen.
The match was only 52 seconds old when Hurst justified his recall with the first of his brace of goals. Matt Gill delivered a long throw into the area which Hurst headed home from three yards.
Rovers were initially shocked by the early concession but gradually recovered their composure to provide some danger to the Notts defence and on the half-hour mark Kevin Pilkington saved at full stretch to deny ex-Notts man James Hunt.
Junior Agogo, already on four goals for Rovers this season, went even nearer with a lovely chip moments before half-time which glanced just over the angle.
Notts resumed for the second half looking for another early goal and Hurst nearly provided it with an effort on 48 minutes which came back off Scott Shearer's right-hand upright before Rovers scrambled the ball to safety.
Indeed Hurst had to wait until the 79th minute for his second goal which clinched the points in County's favour. Lewis McMahon, just on the field as a substitute for Chris Palmer floated in a pin-point corner which Hurst met with his head to beat Shearer.
Hurst went looking for a hat-trick and was only narrowly offside when he put the ball in the net for a third time.
Aaron Lescott saw red late on for a crude high challenge on Notts defender Rob Ullathorne who was yellow carded for retaliation.
The win stretched Notts County's unbeaten league run to five games as well as preserving their 100 per cent home record.
It is the first time for three years that Notts have won three games on the bounce in front of their own fans and the first time in six visits that Rovers have been beaten at Meadow Lane.